Rochdale Hornets 14 - 10 Batley Bulldogs

After last week's emphatic victory in the Challenge Cup against lower division Gloucestershire All Golds it was back to the reality of much tougher opposition in the Championship for Rochdale Hornets. But last week's confidence booster showed as Hornets matched a Batley side that had won two from four, against Hornets three losses, in their opening Championship games and registered their first Championship victory, just, following a tight first half and an equally tense second half.

The first half saw Hornets in front after the first twenty minutes but Batley pressure induced defensive errors to give them a two point lead at half time.

Hornets opened the scoring when Ratu made the most of a Baines break. Crook failed with the conversion attempt.

Hornets increased their lead when sustained pressure was rewarded as Paul Crook darted over from the unfamiliar hooking role. Crook missed the conversion.

Batley hit back after three repeat sets for Blackmore to go over. Paterson's conversion attempt failed.

Batley took a lead into the half time break after capitalising on a Hornets slip which let Greenwood in for a try. This time Paterson added the extras.

The second half was as tight and tense as it gets with neither side scoring until Hornets scored what proved to be the winning try more than half way through the half - Sam Te'o with the try and Paul Crook with the conversion.

Man-of-the-match: Paul Crook

Attendance: 818

Rochdale Hornets: Wayne English, Gaz Langley, Dave Llewellyn, Michael Ratu, Sam Te'o, Ryan Millard, Paul Crook, John Cookson, Sean Casey, Warren Thompson, Chris Baines, Tony Suffolk, Jordan Case.
Replacements: Steve Marsh, Adam Bowman, Danny Davies, Lewis Sheridan.

Batley Bulldogs: Miles Greenwood, Ben Blackmore, Alex Bretherton, Lee Paterson, Vinnie Finnigan, Alistair Leak, Scott Leatherbarrow, Byron Smith, Luke Blake, Adam Gledhill, John Davies, Sam Scott, Joe Chandler.
Replacements: Alex Rowe, Anthony Nicholson, Brad Brennan, Charlie Martin.