BULLDOGS COME OUT ON TOP IN END TO END BATTLE

**** Kalum Rathbone scores the opener ****

SWINTON LIONS 12

BATLEY BULLDOGS 30

IAN RIGG Heywood Road Sunday

Batley Bulldogs secured victory with a strong final quarter when the Lions defence started to run out of power. Lions second row man Deane Meadows was sent to the sin bin in the third minute for going high on Ollie Greensmith and the Bulldogs tried to make the most of the extra man, but the Lions defence stood up well against the constant wave of attacks on the line and some poor handling also let the Bulldogs down. It took them twelve minutes to finally break the Lions defence, and it was Joe Burton who scored from an overlap in the right corner with Ben Reynolds converting. Bobson Stevens then went close before the Lions levelled the scores with Meadows making a break supported by Wigan loanee Kalum Rathbone who scored under the posts and Jack Stevens converted. Bulldogs were still turning the screw on the Lions defence, but they were being repelled. Robbie Buttwerorth who was popping up everywhere had a couple of good chances, but the scores were level as both teams went in at the break. From the start of the second half Bulldogs were still testing the Lions line, but it was the Lions who took the lead when a stray Bulldogs pass found Harry Higham and he broke down the right to feed the supporting Adam Jones who raced in by the posts and Stevens again converted. Dante Morley-Samuels went close for the Lions before the Bulldogs levelled the scores when Robson Stevens crashed in by the posts and Reynolds converted. Morley-Samuels again went close before former Lion Ben White put his side ahead going over on the left and Reynolds made no mistake again. Bulldogs forced a goal line drop out and a few minutes later Greensmith was held up before he added the visitors fourth try with five minutes left and again Reynolds added the touchline conversion. They forced another goal line drop out with a couple of minutes left and from this came the final try when a good passing movement saw Reynolds finish off a passing movement to score in the right corner and he again added the conversion off the touch line to send the small army of Bulldogs fans home with a smile. Both sides also lost players to injury and did not return to the field.

MATCHFACTS

LIONS

1 Louie Roberts

5 Harry Higham

20 Adam Jones

33 Dante Morley-Samuels

3 Ellis Anderson

7 Jack Stevens

21 Tom Ratchford

8 Sami Kibula

9 Josh Eaves

10 Ben Killan