Bulldogs cash-in but Fev's Sharp left furious

COACH JOHN Kear saw his side earn what could be a £50,000 win, but insisted: 'It is not about the money'.
Alex Brown of Batley passes under pressure from Luke BriscoeAlex Brown of Batley passes under pressure from Luke Briscoe
Alex Brown of Batley passes under pressure from Luke Briscoe

Bulldogs broke their Qualifiers duck with an 11-10 success over Featherstone Rovers, who are still waiting for their first points.

The victory made Batley favourites to finish seventh, earning £550,000 in prize money, to the £500,000 for the side in eighth spot.

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Kear stressed, with three games still to play, he is taking nothing for granted and he said: “It was not about the money.

“We built that one up as the battle of the part-time teams in the Qualifiers. We have come out on top and I am absolutely delighted for the players.”

Wayne Reittie scored the winning try 11 minutes from time, but Dominic Brambani’s drop goal on the stroke of half-time proved the difference in the end.

“He is a clever player,” Kear said. “It would have been 8-4 [without the drop goal] so you may as well take it and claw something back.”

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Kear was also pleased with his team’s decision to kick a penalty in the second half when they trailed 10-5.

“That meant if we scored in the corner it doesn’t put the pressure on the kicker, you are still in front,” he said.

“You have got to have faith in your players that they will come up with the try. I did have that faith and it has worked out great for us.”

In contrast, Rovers boss Jon Sharp was upset at his team twice turning down a kickable penalty in the second half, when they had an opportunity to go five points ahead.

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He said: “We committed Hara-kiri. The cone got sent on and it was sent off by the players.

“I was disappointed with that and absolutely furious that the cone goes back on and gets sent back off again.

“That would have given us a five-point buffer and meant they had to kick the goal. Lo and behold, they score a try in the corner and miss the goal kick.

“We would have won the game 12-11. People have got to be held accountable for that. I think it’s a lack of respect to Batley and a lack of understanding about games and pressure situations.”