OLPHERTS TREBLE DOWNS LIONS AT BATLEY

Adam Jones - Photo credit to Paul Butterfield

*** Photo credit – Paul Butterfield ***

BATLEY BULLDOGS 54

SWINTON LIONS 6

IAN RIGG Fox’s Biscuits Stadium Sunday

Batley Bulldogs got off the mark with their first win with an emphatic victory over the luckless Lions. Early pressure from the Bulldogs on the Lions line but Harry Higham managed to knock down Ben Reynolds pass with the line open for Joe Burton. But it was Burton who opened the scoring on three minutes when swift passing saw him cross on the right, but Reynolds was off target with the conversion. The Lions tried to hit back on nine minutes but Ellis Anderson close before losing the ball near the right corner. Bulldogs increased the lead on fourteen minutes when Josh Woods sent in Derrell Olpherts at the left corner and Reynolds added the conversion. More good attacking play by the Lions with two chances but the Bulldogs defence was scrambling well. Olpherts went close again before Felix Ellis was sent to the sinbin for a late challenge on Reece Briers, but it was the home side who scored on their next attack when Woods launched a high kick, and Dane Manning caught it to score and Reynolds converted. The Lions hit back seven minutes from the break when Finlay Irwin went close and from the play the ball it went right across the line for Harry Higham to swallow dive into the corner with Briers converting off the touchline. And with seconds to go to half time Bulldogs scored again when Nyle Flynn scored after a Wes Bruines break and Reynolds missed the conversion.

Bulldogs started the second half as they ended the first adding another try in the opening minutes with Robson Stvens finishing off a move under the posts and Reynolds again converted this one. The Lions then put in a good spell playing up the slope twice forcing goal line dropouts but again the Bulldogs defence was strong. Robbie Butterworth added the next try on fifty-ive minutes cutting in from the left to score and Reynolds again converted. Olpherts then added his second after good play by his fullback, but Reynolds missed this conversion. Alistair Leak darted over from the play the ball with fifteen minutes left and Josh Woods took over the kicking to add the conversion. Five minutes later Leak added a second going over by the posts from short range and Woods converted again. The final try came five minutes from time when a good passing movement saw Olpherts score his third of the afternoon and Woods converted from the touchline. There was a guard of honour for Luke Cooper at the end of the game playing his last Bulldogs game.

MATCHFACTS

BULLDOGS

1 Reece Butterworth

2 Joe Burton

4 Wes Bruines

22 Felix Ellis

25 Darrell Olpherts

6 Ben Reynolds

7 Josh Woods

17 Liam Kirk

14 Ben White

27 Ronan Dixon