Batley Bulldogs 30-34 Midlands Hurricanes
Betfred Championship Round Nineteen
By Tom Kiernan-Wilson
After four home games in just over three weeks – culminating in a 38-22 win over Goole Vikings – the Canes had just over two weeks off before making the trip up to West Yorkshire to tackle Batley Bulldogs famous sloped pitch: Mount Pleasant.
The game started strongly for the Canes as Sully Medforth’s kick down the hill would bounce into touch, gifting vital possession early on. After a couple of attempts, Ryan Johnson would offload to Matty Chrimes who quite literally fell over the line to open our account (0-4). Sully Medforth would nail an impressive conversion from out wide (0-6).
Batley would not be perturbed by the quick start, and had their own opportunity to level as a high bomb would bounce off Todd Horner’s head and go beyond our dead-ball line for a goal-line drop out. After inviting pressure, some swift hands from right to left found Jack Hudson in space to score (4-6). Ben Reynolds – known for his kicking abilities – nailed a difficult conversion from out wide.
Oliver Roberts would find himself with an opportunity to nudge the Canes back in front on 13 minutes, but unfortunately he was unable to weave his way round and knocked on just before getting the ball down. A few minutes later Batley would nudge themselves in front as a high bomb was patted into the arms of Dane Manning who fell over the line (10-6), with Reynolds once again converting (12-6).
Four minutes later, the Canes would level the scores after a strong set found Captain Jon-Luke Kirby in a position to collide with the Batley defence at short range and drop over the line left of the sticks (12-10). Sully would one of his easier conversions that afternoon (12-12).
Five minutes later, Lewis Else would earn us a penalty as he was taken off the ball just in front of the posts. Perhaps with some eyebrows raised initially, Sully Medforth opted to take the two and kicked an easy penalty goal to nudge us in front once again (12-14).
That decision would ultimately prove hugely beneficial as – on the return set – Aiden Roden would race down the hill from dummy half before offloading to Lewis Else who charged through the remaining defence before racing to score just right of the posts (12-18). Sully Medforth would once again score an easy conversion to extend our lead to eight points (12-20).
The first half would however ultimately be Batley’s in terms of the scoreline. A few minutes after Else’s try, some poor discipline would put the home side in a position to score after some suspect defending allowed full-back Robbie Butterworth to score under the sticks (16-20). Reynolds would go on to convert (18-20).
Just before the half-time hooter, a Lewis Else kick down the hill would go out on the full. That would gift Batley a full set from our 40m line, with Lucas Walshaw eventually crashing over from short range to put the home side in front (22-20). Reynolds would add the extras (24-20) and the Canes faced the daunting prospect of defending downhill for 40 minutes.
Despite most people’s expectations about how might score first, it was the Canes would benefit from a combination of luck and forward thinking. A high ball on the last from Batley was batted back by a Bulldogs player and scooped up by Tom Wilkinson, who noticed Horner weaving around him to feed the full-back who raced 80m uphill in an effort that Kate Bush would have proudly sang about (24-24). Sully would nail the conversion from in front of the sticks (24-26).
Three minutes later, the Canes would score again. A Sully Medforth bomb kick was not dealt with by the Bulldogs, who palmed it into the path of the returning Ross Oakes who span and forced his way over from short range (24-30). Sully would land a difficult conversion from out wide, and once again the Canes had an eight point lead despite the circumstances (24-32).
A little under ten minutes later, we would earn a penalty for a ball steal in good field position and – knowing any points earned uphill would be vital – opted for the penalty, which Sully would score (24-34). The Canes therefore had 25 minutes or so to defend a near two-score lead.
Despite that, it would be the Canes who almost had the opportunity to extend their tally to 40 points as some good hands saw Todd Horner in space to go over under the sticks. However, in attempting to weave his arm over the defender he would spill the ball and give Batley an opportunity to make a break from the 20m restart. After repeated sets on the Canes line, the dam would eventually burst as Butterworth would cut through a gap to the left (28-34). Reynolds would once again convert (30-34).
Whilst the Canes would immediately bounce back and earn back-to-back goal-line drop-outs, the home side would eventually push for a levelling score in the dying moments. They would come agonisingly close, as a high ball was gathered and offloaded to the Batley winger who was only denied by a strong pat down by Aidan McGowan, with the ball gratefully landing in the arms of Horner with seconds to go.
Sunday’s win meant a double for the Canes men’s side against the Bulldogs, after a comfortable 30-12 win at Avery Fields earlier in the season. It would also mean a weekend double, as the Canes wheelchair side had beaten Batley 28-30 the previous day in a tightly contested affair. The Canes men now turn their attention to a home tie with Rochdale Hornets this Sunday (19 July).
Man of the Match:
Tyler Dickinson (Sponsored by DC Environmental)
Tries:
Chrimes, Kirby, Else, Horner and Oakes
Cons:
Medforth (5/5)
Pens:
Medforth (2/2)
