Batley Bulldogs: Manning on brink of first-team return

BOSS MATT Diskin expects to have players returning from illness and injury for the Good Friday visit of Dewsbury Rams.
Dane Manning.Dane Manning.
Dane Manning.

“The blessing is, coming into the two games over Easter, we should have plenty of people coming back,” said Diskin, whose team visit Sheffield Eagles on Easter Monday.

Dane Manning, who was stabbed in an incident at a nightclub earlier this month, could be available for Friday’s derby if he comes through training unscathed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“His wound is healing nicely,” Diskin said of the former Leeds Rhinos forward.

Matt Diskin.Matt Diskin.
Matt Diskin.

“He is okay to resume full training so we’ll see how he pulls through this week.”

Batley suffered a second successive league defeat when they were beaten 40-14 by Featherstone Rovers two days ago.

They led 12-0 after eight minutes and were 14-10 ahead at half-time, but Diskin admitted old failings let them down.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Rovers did not go in front until the 51st minute, but scored four tries in the final quarter as Batley’s defence tired.

Matt Diskin.Matt Diskin.
Matt Diskin.

The try which nosed Featherstone in front came after Jason Crookes allowed a 40-20 kick to bounce into touch.

Diskin described that as a “brain explosion” and “bizarre” and he said: “It’s individual errors in concentration that cost us dearly week to week.

“That’s what we keep going on about and it’s stuff we need to improve on.”