FIRST HALF HORROR SHOW COSTS 'DOGS DEAR

BATLEY BULLDOGS 24-34 HALIFAX

Thursday, 11 March 2010

Report by Mark Ward

A frustrating first-half, littered with penalties, errors and indiscipline cost the Bulldogs dear this evening, despite a spirited second half fightback from Karl Harrison's shellshocked charges.  Halifax raced into a 30-6 interval lead after a succession of silly mistakes by Batley paved the way for five simple tries for the visitors.  Referee Ronnie Laughton racked up over 25 penalty decisions in a scrappy encounter which did little to advertise Championship rugby other than showcasing an exciting if ultimately doomed comeback attempt by the 'Dogs.

It had all looked so promising early on when the Bulldogs opened brightly and captured the lead on 4 minutes with a perfectly executed try.  Sean Hesketh's mighty carry set the platform for Gareth Moore to chip deftly to the corner, and winger Ian Preece's brute strength carried him past the attentions of former Bulldog Shad Royston to touch down in the corner.  Moore's excellent conversion gave the home side an early 6-0 advantage.

Unfortunately, that was about as good as it got for the Bulldogs as they lined up for the restart.  The Halifax kick wasn't picked up by Hesketh and then from the drop-out, Kris Lythe conceded a penalty to put 'Fax on the front foot.  Back to back sets kept the pressure on for the visitors and on 9 minutes, former Dewsbury forward Dom Maloney struck from close range.  Lee Paterson's simple conversion in front of the sticks brought parity to the scoreline.  Two minutes later, Halifax thought they had scored again, but the video referee spotted that Jon Goddard dropped the ball over the line as he tried to ground it under pressure, but Paul Handforth was penalised for a ball steal.

The home side's lack of discipline continued to haunt them, and they suffered again on 13 minutes when Kris Lythe was penalised and Maloney scored again with a carbon-copy of his earlier close range try.  Again, Paterson made no mistake with the conversion and 'Fax had turned the tables on their hosts.  On 23 minutes, Hesketh was the sinner for the Bulldogs, conceding the penalty which resulted in Dave Wrench connecting with Ben Black's pass to go over from close range - another successful set of extras from Paterson pushing the score on to 18-6.

Batley then committed the cardinal sin of not finding touch with a penalty not once, but twice, in the final 8 minutes of the half.  Both errors resulted in soul-destroying tries.  On 34 minutes, Halifax once again connected from short rage with the excellent Branighan barging over, converted by Paterson, then on 37 minutes, Shad Royston was on hand to go in at the corner after Handforth's error.  This time the conversion was too angular for Paterson.  On the stroke of half-time, Potter's high shot in centre field gave Paterson a 55 metre penalty attempt.  One touch judge gave it and one didn't, but Mr Laughton adjudged it good, to give 'Fax a commanding interval lead.

HALF-TIME: BATLEY BULLDOGS 6-30 HALIFAX

Karl Harrison's face as he emerged from the dugout prior to the second-half told its own story, but if the home faithful expected the Bulldogs to come out all guns blazing, they were disappointed on 43 minutes when the visitors once again added to their lead.  It was that man Branighan again, continuing the rout with consumate ease, despite the attentions of Campbell and Maun on the line.  A failed conversion attempt by Paterson still left Halifax 34-6 to the good, and the 'Dogs once again staring down the barrel.

Thankfully, with half an hour remaining, the hosts finally rediscovered some of the form that had cast them as this season's potential dark horses, scoring three unanswered tries to rock Halifax back on their heels and earn what had seemed an unlikely bonus point.  On 51 minutes, Jason Walton's barnstorming charge skittled the 'Fax defence allowing Ash Lindsay to get the ball down from close range for what, at the time, looked to be a mere consolation try.  Moore converted to bring the score back to 34-12 then, after sustained home pressure, Dave Wrench was sin-binned on 59 minutes for persistent spoiling and suddenly the game took on a different complexion.

On 66 minutes, the video referee was once again called into action as Campbell benefited from Lythe's great run to roll over Goddard on the line to touch down.  Despite protestations from the visitors that Campbell had lost the ball, the booth official thought otherwise and awarded the score.  Moore's conversion brought the Bulldogs to within one try of a bonus point and two minutes later, Ashley Lindsay's marauding run set up the opportunity for Campbell to dart in for his second try in quick succession.  Moore's latest conversion made it a ten-point ball game, but in a tense final ten minutes, try as they might the valiant Bulldogs could breach their opponents' line no more.

Ultimately, a disappointing evening and arguably two points lost.  Harrison's men paid dearly for a shocking first half display, but encouragingly won the second period 18-4.  Two away games follow, at Gateshead in the NRC then back in front of the Sky cameras at Cougar Park.  It must surely be two straight wins if the 'Dogs are to recharge their recent lacklustre results.

BULLDOGS: 5 Campbell, 1 Preece, 4 Maun, 12 Toohey, 2 Greenwood, 6 Handforth, 7 Moore, 17 Potter, 9 Lythe, 10 Hesketh, 23 Buttery, 26 Walton, 13 Lindsay.  Interchange: 11 T.Gallagher, 20 Tootill, 21 Martin, 25 Wood.

T: Preece, Lindsay, Campbell 2

G: Moore 4

HALIFAX: 4 Royston, 2 Paterson, 3 Goddard, 5 Haley, 23 Worrincy, 6 Branighan, 7 Black, 8 Aizue, 9 Penkywicz, 19 Maloney, 11 Larder, 22 Wrench (sin-binned 59), 12 Gene.  Interchange: 13 Beswick, 14 Gleeson, 16 Tamghart, 17 Watene.

T: Maloney 2, Wrench, Branighan 2, Royston

G: Paterson 5

Score Sequence: 6-0, 6-6, 6-12, 6-18, 6-24, 6-28, 6-30, (HT), 6-34, 12-34, 18-34, 24-34

Referee: Ronnie Laughton

Attendance: 1,837

Man of the Match: Luke Branighan ran the show for the visitors from half-back as well as scoring two tries of his own.  Gateshead's loss is most definitely Halifax's gain.