Hornets 14 - Batley 24
To misquote Mark Twain: "Never get involved in a shit fight with a big Yorkshire pack - they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience."
In the week that tyro referee Liam Moore announced his ascent to full-time status, Batley arrived at Spotland with a win-at-all-costs gameplan that tested his capabilities to the limit - the Bulldogs shipping 12 of the game's 21 penalties as they brawled, sprawled and - eventually - spoiled every last drop of quality from the game.
With a huge pack, Batley's half-backs had a single purpose - to feed the forwards into traffic and grind out a win of any shade. Indeed, This was a victory for experience over endeavour as the low-geared visitors bulldozed their way around the park leaving a trail of elbows, knees and niggle in pretty much every tackle.
Hornets got off to a perfect start: Batley spectacularly knocking-on the kick-off, Lewis Galbraith blasting through the line to score after just 45 seconds. Not even enough time for the visiting fans to shout 'offside'.
And in the early exchanges, Hornets strove to play what little football was on offer, going close in the 7th minute, the ball knocked on under the posts.
As Batley hit their stride, the game became increasingly fragmented, Mr Moore setting the bar as he pulled Jordan Case for holding on too long: Case making amends immediately with a good shot, knocking the ball out of the tackle. A rare loose carry from Rob Massam let Batley off the hook and, on 15 minutes, Bulldogs prop Gledhill arrived onto a short ball to score from close range. Walker hit the target and Batley edged ahead 4-6.
Mr Moore continued to confound: missing a blatant forward pass, then - when Batley put the ball to ground - giving them the feed. Batley's attempt at lucid football ended in a dreadful obstruction-play to hand Hornets possession.
On the quarter mark, the usually tenacious Hornets defence allowed Batley to offload multiple times and a neat offload sent Ainscough under the black dot. Walker raising the flags for 4-12.
The Bulldogs again coughed the kick-off, Hornets pressing hard with Rob Massam held-up in the in-goal.
With Hornets building pressure Batley unleashed a barrage of cheap shots, high-shots and low-blows to get themselves a team warning and, when Lewis Foster found a big cut-out pass on the half-hour mark, Jake Eccleston stepped back inside defenders to score. Again, no conversion: 8-12.
Batley showed their ambition, taking a penalty on 35 minutes - then settled down to basically fight their way to half time. Not happy enough with receiving a gift penalty after they cocked-up a play the ball, Batley instigated a flurry of punches after Jo Taira landed a bell-ringing shot. But having carried the ball to the Hornets 10 metre line, the Bulldogs ran out of ideas.
With a minute of the half remaining, Danny Yates sparked a huge break up the left channel, only to be brought back to where Gaz Middlehurst and resident Batley nut-job Farell were exchanging blows. Despite having digged Middlehurst after the play the ball, Batley won the penalty. Then they knocked on. Crap, really.
Hornets had enough time to force two consecutive drop-outs, but Batley held on and the sides went to the sheds with the visitors in-front at 8-14.
Having started the second-half with a needlessly forced pass and a knock-on, Hornets showed good defence to track back and snuff-out a rare Batley attack.
The visitors then had a shaky period. Pound-shop Vin Diesel Reittie ridiculously milked a penalty from the gullible Mr Moore, only to ship one three minutes later for entering a completed tackle with his knees. Pretty much his entire contribution right there.
From the resutling possession, Gaz Middlehurst spun through some ordinary defence to score. Danny Yates locking the game up at 14-all with 27 minutes to play.
The game was now a battle of wills as both sides probed for the breakthrough.
Batley got their noses ahead on 69 minutes when Dec Kay was brutally squashed by onrushing tacklers as he took a steepling bomb, then Batley given a penalty in the ensuing set: 14-16.
With the big Batley pack low on gas, it seemed sensible to keep them moving as much as possible, but Hornets repeatedly kicked the ball into the corners giving them time to walk back and get their breath. Fortunately, the visitors struggled to capitalise and the game remained finely balanced. Hornets snatched some good field position after Batley knocked-on Lewis Foster's kick, but with players lining up for one last push, Gaz Middlehurst spilled the ball.
Batley responded: trundling upfield to force a Hornets error, Leak slumping in for a late sucker-try from acting half. Walker the two and the game gone at 14-22.
In a desperate attempt to chase the last crumbs of the game, Hornets slammed the kick-off directly into touch and Walker took the two from half-way to blow-out the winning margin to 10 points.
In the wash-up, Batley showed every ounce of their Championship nous to win this one, grinding the game to a scrappy halt at times. And if every game is a learning opportunity the lessons here are not to get dragged into a forward scrap against a side who've come to do whatever's neccessary to win - and when you're playing a side of big lumps, keep the buggers playing when they're out on their feet. Also, Walker hit six goals from six attempts, Hornets managing just one from three. And in tight games, that can be the difference.
Ultimately, we can be coldly objective: Batley finished 4th last year and have a budget at least twice ours, which buys you a ten-point margin. Or we can chalk this one up to experience and take the learnings forward.
Which applies equally to Mr Moore.
To misquote Mark Twain: "Never get involved in a shit fight with a big Yorkshire pack - they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience."
In the week that tyro referee Liam Moore announced his ascent to full-time status, Batley arrived at Spotland with a win-at-all-costs gameplan that tested his capabilities to the limit - the Bulldogs shipping 12 of the game's 21 penalties as they brawled, sprawled and - eventually - spoiled every last drop of quality from the game.
With a huge pack, Batley's half-backs had a single purpose - to feed the forwards into traffic and grind out a win of any shade. Indeed, This was a victory for experience over endeavour as the low-geared visitors bulldozed their way around the park leaving a trail of elbows, knees and niggle in pretty much every tackle.
Hornets got off to a perfect start: Batley spectacularly knocking-on the kick-off, Lewis Galbraith blasting through the line to score after just 45 seconds. Not even enough time for the visiting fans to shout 'offside'.
And in the early exchanges, Hornets strove to play what little football was on offer, going close in the 7th minute, the ball knocked on under the posts.
As Batley hit their stride, the game became increasingly fragmented, Mr Moore setting the bar as he pulled Jordan Case for holding on too long: Case making amends immediately with a good shot, knocking the ball out of the tackle. A rare loose carry from Rob Massam let Batley off the hook and, on 15 minutes, Bulldogs prop Gledhill arrived onto a short ball to score from close range. Walker hit the target and Batley edged ahead 4-6.
Mr Moore continued to confound: missing a blatant forward pass, then - when Batley put the ball to ground - giving them the feed. Batley's attempt at lucid football ended in a dreadful obstruction-play to hand Hornets possession.
On the quarter mark, the usually tenacious Hornets defence allowed Batley to offload multiple times and a neat offload sent Ainscough under the black dot. Walker raising the flags for 4-12.
The Bulldogs again coughed the kick-off, Hornets pressing hard with Rob Massam held-up in the in-goal.
With Hornets building pressure Batley unleashed a barrage of cheap shots, high-shots and low-blows to get themselves a team warning and, when Lewis Foster found a big cut-out pass on the half-hour mark, Jake Eccleston stepped back inside defenders to score. Again, no conversion: 8-12.
Batley showed their ambition, taking a penalty on 35 minutes - then settled down to basically fight their way to half time. Not happy enough with receiving a gift penalty after they cocked-up a play the ball, Batley instigated a flurry of punches after Jo Taira landed a bell-ringing shot. But having carried the ball to the Hornets 10 metre line, the Bulldogs ran out of ideas.
With a minute of the half remaining, Danny Yates sparked a huge break up the left channel, only to be brought back to where Gaz Middlehurst and resident Batley nut-job Farell were exchanging blows. Despite having digged Middlehurst after the play the ball, Batley won the penalty. Then they knocked on. Crap, really.
Hornets had enough time to force two consecutive drop-outs, but Batley held on and the sides went to the sheds with the visitors in-front at 8-14.
Having started the second-half with a needlessly forced pass and a knock-on, Hornets showed good defence to track back and snuff-out a rare Batley attack.
The visitors then had a shaky period. Pound-shop Vin Diesel Reittie ridiculously milked a penalty from the gullible Mr Moore, only to ship one three minutes later for entering a completed tackle with his knees. Pretty much his entire contribution right there.
From the resutling possession, Gaz Middlehurst spun through some ordinary defence to score. Danny Yates locking the game up at 14-all with 27 minutes to play.
The game was now a battle of wills as both sides probed for the breakthrough.
Batley got their noses ahead on 69 minutes when Dec Kay was brutally squashed by onrushing tacklers as he took a steepling bomb, then Batley given a penalty in the ensuing set: 14-16.
With the big Batley pack low on gas, it seemed sensible to keep them moving as much as possible, but Hornets repeatedly kicked the ball into the corners giving them time to walk back and get their breath. Fortunately, the visitors struggled to capitalise and the game remained finely balanced. Hornets snatched some good field position after Batley knocked-on Lewis Foster's kick, but with players lining up for one last push, Gaz Middlehurst spilled the ball.
Batley responded: trundling upfield to force a Hornets error, Leak slumping in for a late sucker-try from acting half. Walker the two and the game gone at 14-22.
In a desperate attempt to chase the last crumbs of the game, Hornets slammed the kick-off directly into touch and Walker took the two from half-way to blow-out the winning margin to 10 points.
In the wash-up, Batley showed every ounce of their Championship nous to win this one, grinding the game to a scrappy halt at times. And if every game is a learning opportunity the lessons here are not to get dragged into a forward scrap against a side who've come to do whatever's neccessary to win - and when you're playing a side of big lumps, keep the buggers playing when they're out on their feet. Also, Walker hit six goals from six attempts, Hornets managing just one from three. And in tight games, that can be the difference.
Ultimately, we can be coldly objective: Batley finished 4th last year and have a budget at least twice ours, which buys you a ten-point margin. Or we can chalk this one up to experience and take the learnings forward.
Which applies equally to Mr Moore.
