ThePress
Friday January 30, 2015
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RUGBY LEAGUE PLAYER RATINGS BATLEY BULLDOGS Jordan Grayston Wayne Reittie Ayden Faal Shaun Squires Johnny Campbell Cain Southernwood Scott Leatherbarrow Adam Gledhill Anthony Nicholson Alex Rowe Brad Day James Brown Jacob Morgan
SUBS: Alistair Leak Sean Hesketh Tom Lillycrop Lee Mitchell Curtis Sidebottom Sam Scott
HW SELECT Pat Foulstone George Croisdale Danny Crabtree Andy Robinson AJ Boardman Joel Gibson Brendan Sheridan Andy Burland Josh Knowles Toby Richardson Ben Kendall Josh Thornycroft Danny Annakin
SUBS: Mindaukas Bendikas Adam Egan Martyn Holland Matt Myers Bartley O’Brien Jake Richardson James Samme Greg Wilby
GAME GUIDE BATLEY BULLDOGS Tries: Campbell (41, 45), Reittie (52, 77), Gledhill (11), Anderson (28), Leak (33), Grayston (36), Mitchell (49, 72), Faal (56), Squires (58). Goals: Southernwood 8/ 11, Leatherbarrow 2/2.
HW SELECT Tries: Croisdale (3) Goal: Gibson 1/1.
STATS Penalty Count: 9-6 Referee: J Roberts Attendance: 687 Half-Time: 24-6 Weather: Still and dry Sin-Bin: None Sent Off: None
ThePress MAN OF THE MATCH
BULLDOGS SHOW CLASS Batley prove too strong for Maun’s plucky amateurs PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
BATLEY BULLDOGS 68 HEAVY WOOLLEN SELECT 6 Malcolm Haigh at the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium
BATLEY BULLDOGS proved a step too far for a battling Heavy Woollen Select XIII as they ran out comfortable 68-6 winners at the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium. The Bulldogs were given a real shock when the Heavy Woollen Select – welded together from amateur clubs in the area – raced into the lead with wingman George Croisdale building on some great approach work to score after only three minutes. And with stand-off Joel Gibson – son of Batley’s former notable player Carl Gibson – repeatedly getting involved the amateurs proved quite a challenge during the first half even though the professionals struck back in fine fashion to open up a 24-6 interval lead. But professionalism counted increasingly as the game wore on and the Bulldogs made their mark with eight secondhalf touchdowns and some splendid conversions from both Cain Southernwood and Scott Leatherbarrow. The whole game proved to be such a thrilling challenge
CAIN SOUTHERNWOOD The Bulldogs debutant was instrumental in a number of his side’s tries
SHOCK START: Dewsbury Moor winger George Croisdale opened the scoring for the HW Select that both coaches – Batley’s John Kear and the Select’s coach, former Batley player Danny Maun, independently came up with the same suggestion that the game, like the traditional Boxing Day fixture between Batley and Dewsbury
should become an established part of pre-season. “I think it is a great concept,” said Kear adding that it was a tribute to the amateurs that Batley had put out such a strong side. “The amateurs showed that
we were right to give them such respect,” he added. Maun added that the game had proved to be a great and intriguing challenge and he was proud that his side had produced such a brilliant first half.
Send your sports reports, news and photos to Jared Priestley at sport@thepressnews.co.uk
Maroons edge leaders Dewsbury beat Drighlington A in thrilling league encounter PENNINE LEAGUE DIVISION SIX EAST
DEWSBURY MOOR A DRIGHLINGTON A
batleybulldogs.co.uk
Sure enough within three minutes of the kick-off they had surged down the Mount Pleasant slope with centre Danny Crabtree and wingman AJ Boardman making great inroads before full back Pat Foulstone chipped the ball over the line for Dewsbury Moor wingman Croisdale to touch down. Gibson landed the conversion and then led the Select on various other sorties before being injured shortly before the interval. Batley levelled the score after 11 minutes when some smart passing saw prop Adam Gledhill touch down and Southernwood land the first of his eight goals. Batley went on to add a further three first-half tries but the real rush of points came after the break when the Bulldogs, with the benefit of the slope and slick passing movements, outwitted their challengers and crossed the line at regular intervals. Gledhill and Alex Rowe provided a show of devastating forward power while wingmen Wayne Reittie and Johnny Campbell sealed the success of some magical midfield manoeuvres by collecting two tries apiece in the eight-try second-half spectacular.
30 24
at Heckmondwike Road
DEWSBURY MOOR A edged a tight Division Six East tie with league leaders Drighlington on Saturday. Moor’s second string were straight out of the blocks and within 10 minutes speedy full back Jordan Foster had crossed for two tries. The goals were missed but Dewsbury had an early 8-0 lead. Drighlington – who included three of their Yorkshire Cup winning side in their line-up – got back into the game with a welltaken try from stand-off Oliver Sharpe. Scrum-half Steven Gallagher
converted to reduce the deficit to just two points. The visitors were in the ascendancy and Moor had to defend manfully, with Ashley Boddy, Pattrick Farrelly and Chris Mortimer to the fore. With the interval approaching good handling by Jonjoe Fox, Dean Arrundel and Tom Kaye created space for winger Jacob Flathers to cross and put Moor into a 12-6 half-time lead. The second stanza resumed with the game still in the balance as the Leeds side put some good attacking moves together. But Dean Carr, Scott Sheard, Simon Whitely and Foster pulled off some important tackles to keep the visitors at bay. And it was the hosts who crossed next. After good drives by Alex Jeffs, Cain Croity and
John Bowness, 17-year-old Jacob Crosswell – celebrating his selection in the BARLA Under-17s squad – scooted his way over for a typical hooker’s try. Jacob Flathers goaled to make it 18-6 to the Maroon and Golds. But a young Drighlington side which contained a number of teenagers refused to lie down. And after prop forward Andy Brearley had made ground, substitute Josh Ramsden went over and Gallagher goaled to put his side within six points. It was still anybody’s game as both sides tested each other with attractive rugby, but it was Moor who just had the edge. Centre Lewis Harvey spotted a gap and darted over to keep his side in the driving seat. Flathers added the extras to
put Moor 24-12 in front. Drighlington continued with a never-say-die attitude and prop forward Rhys Micklethwaite scored after good work from his pack colleagues. Half-back Gallagher tagged on his third goal. The game remained in the balance at 24-18, before Moor’s Flathers showed a clean pair of heels to score the killer try. He added the goal to his own try for a 12-point cushion. This would have finished off most sides but the visitors showed tremendous character and as full-time approached substitute Martyn Reilly got over the Moor line. Gallagher added the goal right on the whistle to conclude a good sporting contest at 30-24 to Dewsbury Moor.
Moor’s juniors hit half-century in Recs cup win BARLA NATIONAL YOUTH CUP
DEWSBURY MOOR UNDER-14S PILKINGTON REC UNDER-14S
56 6
at Heckmondwike Road
DEWSBURY MOOR UNDER-14s hit the half century as they eased past Pilkington Recs in the second round of the BARLA National Youth Cup. The famous St Helens amateur club came to Heckmondwike Road with a good reputation, but it was one that Moor choose to ignore as
they dismantled the Recs to ease into the next round. A well-drilled Maroon and Golds side dealt with everything the visitors could throw at them in the first quarter, but the pressure eventually told as Pilkington went over for a converted try. It would prove their only score of the cup tie as Moor ran the show and posted 56 unanswered points to ease to victory. It was one-way traffic and the hosts scored at regular intervals, with second-rower Bailey Chata leading the way with four tries.
Prop Kian Lappage bagged a hat-trick and fellow second-rower Brad Martin crossed for a double. Winger Stephen Kenny completed the scoring and full-back Dominic Young chipped in with eight successful conversions. In a good all-round performance Finlay Bruce showed quality handling throughout and prop Shaqell Hamed showed good work rate with some testing runs. Moor will now welcome Keighley Albion to Heckmondwike Road in the next round of the famous competition.
Pennine League fixtures hit by wintery weather PENNINE LEAGUE OSSETT TRINITY were the only team to avoid the weather on Saturday as they were beaten 16-0 at PENNINE LEAGUE DIVISION ONE league leaders Stainland Stags. The defeat leaves Trinity just one point above the relegation zone, and with a tie against second-placed West Leeds tomorrow (Sat), things don’t get much easier for the Church Street men. Batley Boys, whose BARLA National Cup tie with Illingworth fell victim of the winter weather, will be hoping for better luck tomorrow when they host CHAMPIONSHIP rivals Morley Borough. A victory for the visitors could see them leapfrog Batley, but the home side will be aiming to prevent that and recapture their league form in the process. Shaw Cross also saw last weekend’s fixture at Wibsey postponed, but continue their assault on DIVISION TWO tomorrow when they tackle a Littleborough side stranded on the foot of the table. In DIVISION FOUR Dewsbury Celtic – currently one spot above the relegation places – can ease their drop zone fears tomorrow if they can beat mid-table side Selby Warriors. Hanging Heaton face a crucial promotion battle at Keighley Albion as they continue their assault on DIVISION FIVE. The Dewsbury outfit are currently sat in third spot behind second-placed Albion. However, the hosts have played three fewer games. But a victory for Hanging Heaton could increase the pressure on the Keighley side and see them leapfrog them into second spot.
DEWSBURY BRIDGE CLUB RESULTS: Tuesday 20 January N/S: 1 M Belk and L Mallinson; 2 J McKillop and J Roberts; 3 W and J Davies.
E/W: 1 D Hannam and J Paxton; 2 S Dyson and C Walker; 3 G Bloom and M Loveridge.