Toronto Wolfpack coach Brian McDermott made five changes to the side which lost last week against Toulouse Olympique XIII as they took on the Batley Bulldogs in the second of the double header at Craven Park.
The Bulldogs have just one win so far this season, the Wolfpack just one loss. A win would take the Wolfpack back to the top of the pile and two points clear while a win for Batley would lift them three places into ninth.
The bookies could only see one winner, for them it was a matter of how many the Wolfpack would run in.
The Wolfpacks opening try came with just over four minutes on the clock when Jon Wilkin and Gareth O’Brien both put in fast passes for Matty Russell to ground in the left corner. O’Brien was unable to kick the extras, missing by some distace in a strong wind.
Andrew Dixon grabbed the second on eleven minutes, Wilkin again the provider, after the Bulldogs had knocked on while trying to recover a loose ball. Dixon hit a short pass to go over under the sticks and when O’Brien kicked the extras it was 10-0 to the Canadian side.
Batley proved that it wasn’t going to be all Toronto on fifteen with a great breakaway try as Scott hit a gap and went sixty metres to score under the uprights. He converted his own try with the extra two to reduce the arrears to four points.
Nice hands in the build up, the Wolfpack moving the length of the field, before a Josh McCrone chip over the top was collected easily and grounded by Jack Logan. Once again O’Brien was unable to add the conversion.
Within two minutes Ricky Leutele scored the fourth for Toronto as he flew in by the left corner flag as the Wolfpack moved the ball across the field on the last tackle. O’Brien got closer, hitting the upright, but still unable to add the extras.
Toronto were turning the handle as Russell grabbed his second for 22-6 after finding a massive overlap down the left wing. Batley were tiring and failing to slide their defence, leaving some massive gaps for the Canadian outfit. O’Brien pulled his kick wide again.
Leutele grabbed himself a sixty metre intercept try on thirty-seven for his second of the half to thwart a promising Batley attack. Ryan Brierley took over the kicking duties and put his conversion between the uprights for 28-6, it was becoming all too easy for the Toronto side.
It took toronto fourteen minutes of the second half to get back into the scoring groove when Jon Wilkin took a Blake Wallace pass to go through a gap to score. O’Brien kicked the conversion for 34-6.
As the heavens opened Batley’s never say die attitude gave them their second try through Louis Jouffret after Dane Manning miraculously tapped back a grubber kick and the Bulldogs half-back was first to react and ground. Scott added the extras.
It was a much closer battle in the second half as both sides battled to overcome some horrendous weather conditions. The sides shared just twelve points in the second half and most of the credit for that must go to Batley who defended well against the might of the Wolfpack. Toronto are back to the top of the table but there is no disgrace for the Bulldogs.
Wolfpack: O’Brien (2G), Russell (2T), Stanley, Leutele (2T), McCrone, Sidlow, Dixon (T), Wilkin (T), Ackers, Olbison, Wallace, Springer, Logan (T). Subs: Mullally, Lussick, Brierley, Fash.
Bulldogs: Walker, Scott (T, 2G), Smeaton, Galbraith, Campbell, Jouffret (T), Gledhill, Lillycrop, Manning, Downs, Brown, Dickinson, Taira. Subs: Wood, Tomlinson, Brearley, Bienek.
Referee: Greg Dolan.
Half-Time: 28-6.
Full-Time: 34-12.
Attendance: .
