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York Knights produced a spirited second-half fightback but were unable to overcome Batley Bulldogs in a 22-18 defeat at the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium.
Batley led 10-0 at half-time when attacking down the slope thanks to tries from Lucas Walshaw and Joe Burton before Robbie Butterworth and Alistair Leak extended the Bulldogs’ lead early in the second half.
York fought back to trail by just four points after Ukuma Ta’ai, Jordan Thompson and Tom Lineham each crossed the whitewash in the space of six minutes but were unable to find a winner against a determined Batley.
After a stern arm-wrestle through the opening quarter of an hour, Batley struck first, capitalising on a six-again and a penalty to give them the field position for Walshaw to crash in from a Josh Woods short ball.
Batley furthered their lead when a classy tip pass from Robbie Butterworth put Joe Burton in at the left corner.
Josh Woods converted the former but the not latter score to give the Bulldogs a 10-0 lead at the break.
The Knights made a bright start to the second period, with Tom Lineham going close to cutting the gap by diving in at the left corner from Nikau Williams’ wide cut-out ball, but the referee ruled the pass as forward.
Batley then hit back with two tries in the space of seven minutes to stretch out their lead to 22-0.
Butterworth scampered to the left corner from Ben White’s break before Alistair Leak stretched an arm out under the sticks from a dummy-half dart. Woods landed both conversions.
Seemingly out of the contest, the Knights scored thrice within just six minutes to trail by just four points heading into the final quarter of an hour.
Ta’ai drove through from a Josh Daley short ball and Thompson then followed him over when finding a gap to the right of the posts.
Jimmy Keinhorst then produced a miracle pass through the legs to put Lineham in at the left edge.
Myles Harrison converted all three tries to leave York just 22-18 down with 15 minutes to go.
The Knights battled hard for a winner but it was Batley who held on to claim the two points.
Batley: Butterworth, Morton, Kear, Buchanan, J. Burton, White, Woods, Gledhill, Leak, Cooper, Manning, Walshaw, Moore
Subs (all used): Burton, Flynn, Ward, Kibula
18th Player: Senior
Tries: Walshaw (15’), Burton (28’), Butterworth (47’), Leak (54’)
Goals: Woods (3/4)
York: Harrison, Brown, Ward, Keinhorst, Lineham, Williams, Harris, Ta’ai, Jubb, Fitzsimmons, Bailey, Reynolds, Thompson
Subs (all used): Teanby, Michael, Daley, Hingano
18th Player: Pemberton
Tries: Ta’ai (60’), Thompson (64’), Lineham (66’)
Goals: Harrison (3/3)
