» May 13th 2001
» Town 25 : 16 Batley Bulldogs

Town came into this match on the back of a recent away defeat to the division's form team Rochdale. Today's visitors had enjoyed a good victory the previous week against Sheffield.

It was all set for an explosive match. Batley had recruited well and several of their squad are well known throughout Rugby League and many have Super League experience.

Town suffered before the kick-off. Tane Manihera had warmed up prior to the match, but he was a last minute withdrawal with a recurrence of the calf injury that he has been suffering in recent weeks. Carl Sice was drafted in the squad and would start on the bench. John Allen was promoted from the bench to the centres and Kevin Hetherington moved to the stand-off position.

The first half saw both teams evenly matched with the score at 8 - 6 in Towns favour. The second half saw Town take control and run in 3 tries before Batley rallied in the last 10 minutes and nearly clawed their way back into the game.

The recent warm spell had made the ground hard and the heat would be a telling factor on both sides.

Both sides showed good defence in the early exchanges and it was clear that breaking through each other's defence was going to be a difficult task.

It was Town that would break the deadlock in the 7th minute. Good Town possession saw them inside the Batley half. Matthew Tunstall took the ball in and passed out of the tackle to Owen Williamson. The ball was passed along the line to John Allen who released Graeme Lewthwaite. The winger had the gap he needed and sped down the line and scored in the corner. Kevin Hetherington missed with the touchline conversion attempt.

Both sides used their forwards to gain field advantage and used the kicking game to try and force a mistake. Town went close on 11 minutes when a high kick from Lee Allen had the Batley defence on the back foot, but the Town attack were punished with a penalty for being inside the 10 metres of the player collecting the ball.

Handling errors from both sides saw neither of them getting any real advantage. Lokeni Savelio was brought on and had an immediate impact. He made several good runs at the Batley defence and was only prevented from gaining further yards by the visitor's solid defence.

Kevin Hetherington extended the Town lead on 26 minutes. Town were awarded a penalty for interference in the tackle after another great run from Lokeni Savelio. Kevin Hetherington elected to kick and slotted over the penalty from 30-metres.

From the kick-off Town put themselves under pressure. Matthew Tunstall knocked on in his own in-goal area and Town were forced to dropout from under the posts. Batley used the possession well and soon put the Town line under pressure. Good interplay between the Batley halfbacks Richard Price and Glen Tomlinson saw them draw in the Town defence. Glen Tomlinson then passed to the supporting fullback Craig Lingard who burst through at speed and ran on to score close to the posts. Craig Price added the conversion to tie the score at 6 - 6.

Good play from Town saw breaks form Graeme Lewthwaite and Lynton Stott. Anthony Samuel charged down an attempted kick from the Batley attack and Lynton Stott carried the ball forward on two drives in quick succession. Batley were caught offside and Kevin Hetherington edged Town back into the lead after successfully kicking the resulting penalty.

The dying minutes of the half saw both teams defending well and forcing each other into mistakes. Batley went close with a drop-goal attempt from hooker Andy Hepinstall before the halftime hooter sounded.

The start of the second half saw Town again put themselves under pressure. The kick-off was not collected and Town were forced to dropout from under the posts. An excellent kick from Lynton Stott saw the ball bounce on halfway and find touch. From the resulting possession Town were able to use the ball and score. Good work by Matthew Woodcock, who had replaced the injured John Allen at halftime, saw Town in a good position. The ball came to Graeme Lewthwaite who burst through the line and despite the attentions of three would be tacklers he managed to reach for the line and score. Kevin Hetherington missed the conversion attempt.

The Town lead was further extended after 50 minutes. Kevin Hetherington attempted a 40/20 kick and the ball bounced into the Batley in-goal area. A good chase from the Town players saw the Batley player tackled in-goal and force the dropout. Town collected the ball and good drives put the Batley defence under pressure. The ball was swung wide to Matthew Woodcock who ran around the Batley defence and down the touchline to score in the corner. Kevin Hetherington missed with the touchline conversion. Town were now in control and had a 16 - 6 lead.

Batley were nearly back in the game after 55 minutes. Jeremy Dyson went in at the corner after Batley swung the ball wide. The referee missed several suspected forward passes and he went to the touch judge before disallowing the try for a forward pass.

Carl Sice had come of the bench and was starting to torment the Batley defence with his elusive running style. Good drive from Matt Sturm, Lokeni Savelio and Carl Sice saw Town quickly into the Batley half. Graeme Lewthwaite went close, but he was held up under the posts.

Town extended their lead on 59 minutes. Batley were punished for ball stealing right in front of the posts. Kevin Hetherington easily kicking the penalty to extend the Town lead to 18 -16.

The 64th minute saw Lynton Stott collect the ball in the line. From just inside his own half he managed to land an unbelievable drop-goal to further extend the Town lead.

The attacking play from Town was intense. Jamie Beaumont made a good break on 66 minutes and passed to the supporting Carl Sice, who collected the ball just inside the Batley half. He ran at the defensive line and managed to duck, weave and bob out of the tackles and broke through the line and with one of his jinking runs he sped 20 Metres to score, much to his own delight and that of his team-mates as well as that of all the Town fans. Kevin Hetherington slotted over the conversion to move Town into a 25 - 6 lead.

The game was over as far as Town were concerned. Batley did not read the scrip and put Town under pressure from the kick-off. The ball was kicked short and Glen Tomlinson was first to the ball. Batley used the ball well and drove at the Town defensive line. Glen Tomlinson again drew in the defence and released Craig Lingard who went in to score. Craig Price hit the upright with the conversion attempt.

Paul Harrison added another try in the dying minutes of the half. Good handling from Batley again created the gaps. Weak Town cover and some poor tacking saw the forward crash in to score unopposed. Craig Price added the conversion to reduce the Town lead to 25 - 16.

The last few minutes of the half saw Town pinned in the own twenty and the tackle count was wiped out twice in quick succession forcing them to defend. A knock-on from Batley reduced the pressure and the held the ball until the final hooter.

Teams
Town: Lynton Stott, Jonathan Heaney, Neil Frazer, John Allen, Graeme Lewthwaite, Kevin Hetherington, Lee Allen, Matthew Tunstall, Owen Williamson, Hitro Okesene, Jamie Beaumont, Matt Sturm, Anthony Samuel
Subs: Stuart Hoyles, Lokeni Savelio, Carl Sice, Matthew Woodcock

Batley: Craig Lingard, Jeremy Dyson, Paul Reilly, Davide Longo, Paul Gleadhill, Richard Price, Glen Tomlinson, Craig Wright, Andy Hepinstall, Paul Hicks, Paul Harrison, Will Cartledge, Ryan Horsley
Subs: Mark Cass, Jeff Wittenberg, Paul Lister, Gary Shilabeer

Attendance: 832

Referee: Mr Graeme Shaw (Wigan)