Ford expecting ‘big, physical, powerful’ test for Batley at home to Doncaster

The Bulldogs welcome the Dons to the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium on the back of a heavy 56-4 defeat at home to Super League outfit Catalans Dragons in the Challenge Cup, in which the visitors scored a try within the first ten seconds of the contest.

Doncaster also exited the competition at the same stage with Castleford Tigers coming out on top in their third round clash 14-0 at the Eco-Power Stadium.

The Dons were also narrowly beaten 26-24 at Midlands Hurricanes in Round Two of the Championship but beat Halifax Panthers in their opening game in January.

Ford, who will be looking for his first league win this weekend as Batley head coach, said:

“They are big, physical and powerful, and that is pretty much across the board, from Gebbie (Edene) on the wing to Matagi (Suaia) in the middle. There is a whole heap of really powerful ball runners so we need to make sure that our contact is good.

“But we need to focus on ourselves. I will keep banging the drum about depth and timing and last-pass decisions. We left a couple of tries out there against Catalans.

“I couldn’t complain because Catalans were the better team from minute one all the way to the end. We have got to look at ourselves and to aim at doing better.

“Catalans did a thoroughly professional job. I was disappointed with a fair bit with what we did. And it was a poor start. We failed to gather the kick off and we didn’t react. It wasn’t great. Then there was the second try moments later.

“I’m not blaming anybody because we’ve got 56 points to tidy up.”

Ford also confirmed that Ben Reynolds missed the second half of last Sunday’s Challenge Cup tie due to a shoulder knock, while Ben White missed out completely due to sickness.

But Batley have been boosted with the signing of former Super League winger Derrell Olperts, who played under Ford at Featherstone Rovers in the Championship.

Ford said: “Derrell is an experienced outside back. He brings a lot of physicality to us.”