Batley Bulldogs 44 Workington Town 12: Points-hungry Bulldogs lead pack after seeing off cellar dwellers

Bulldogs produced a clinical second-half display, down the Mount Pleasant slope, to run in 30 unanswered points and register a fourth win from their opening five matches.

Workington were well in the game at half-time, trailing only 14-12, before Batley showed their quality after the break.

Workington took the lead but Batley hit back when Keegan Hirst drove then slipped the ball away to put Cain Southernwood over at the side of the posts. Patch Walker landed the first of his eight goals from as many attempts. Batley hit the front when Chris Ulugia leapt above the Town defence to gather Dominic Brambani’s crossfield kick to score.

Workington were on the wrong end of a heavy penalty count and had Jarrad Stack sin-binned for holding down and Walker landed the resulting penalty. Town’s 12 men responded well but Batley cut loose after the break and just a minute after the re-start extended their lead when Alex Bretherton met a pass at pace to crash over. James Brown forced his way over for their fourth try, and Alistair Leak scored between the posts.

Batley then produced a terrific sweeping move down the slope which resulted in Shaun Ainsough sending Southernwood over for his second try. Batley capped off another impressive win when Alex Brown leapt to gather and score on his return to the club.

Batley: D Scott; Reittie, Cowling, Ulugia, Ainscough; Southernwood, Brambani; Hirst, Blake, J Brown, Bretherton, Gledhill, Walker. Subs: Lillycrop, Leak, A Brown, Rowe.

Workington Town: Murphy; Forrester, Hulme, Mossop, Carter; Forber, Sammut; Coward, Mattinson, Gordon, Phillips, Whiteley, McAvoy. Subs: Olstrom, Stack, Shackley, Verliner.

Referee: Jonathan Roberts.

Attendance: 658.