Second-half comeback too late for Batley but Hunslet see off Skolars

Toulouse quickly established a 12-0 lead but the Bulldogs hit back through a Dave Scott try following a sweeping move across the field. However the game was completely taken away from the visitors as the Championship’s second-placed side scored four unanswered tries to lead 34-6 at the break.

Batley reduced the arrears early in the second half as Keenen Tomlinson dived on a grubber kick to score after the Toulouse defence failed to deal with the danger.

After the hosts extended the lead to 40-10, the Bulldogs scored their third try when Lewis Galbraith touched down another kick through after the Toulouse full-back missed the ball (40-16). Tomlinson then scored his second try with a great finish in the corner and Tommy Holland also got in on the action, touching down after a great break from Alistair Leak.

The hosts scored a late penalty to make the final score 42-26 but the Bulldogs will take great heart from their second-half comeback.

In League One, Hunslet got the better of hosts London Skolars 37-30 in an entertaining encounter in the capital.

Skolars leapt into an 18-0 lead thanks to tries from Mike Brown, Lameck Juma and Lamont Bryan but Hunslet hit back in style, scoring 36 unanswered points – Jack Lee, Michael Haley, Will Cooke, Danny Halmshaw and Cain Southernwood (2) all got on the scoresheet for Hunslet in a scintillating spell. But late tries from Neil Thorman and Ryan Burroughs put London back in the match before a late Cain Southernwood drop goal gave Hunslet some breathing space.

The 37-30 victory was Hunslet’s fourth straight win. Gary Thornton’s side will be looking to extend that record when they host Coventry Bears next Sunday.