Match Report: Batley Bulldogs

London Broncos 40 - 12 Batley Bulldogs

London Broncos recorded their seventh win from seven in the Betfred Championship with a 40–12 result against Batley Bulldogs. The match was played in cool, windy and rainy conditions, which affected kicking and ball handling.

Early in the game, Jimmy Meadows’ kick on the last tackle bounced dead in goal. Batley responded with a kick from Ben Reynolds that went out on the full. From the resulting possession, Brandon Webster-Mansfield carried the ball down the right side and passed to Liam Tindall, who scored in the corner. Meadows’ conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

From the restart, London allowed Robbie Butterworth’s angled kick to find touch close to the corner flag. Batley gained possession approximately 10 metres from the London try line. Late in the set, Reynolds kicked ahead and the ball made contact with the heel of Gairo Voro. Morea Morea attempted to gather the ball before Jack Hudson grounded it for a try, which Reynolds converted to give Batley the lead.

Jack Croft and Elliot Wallis were prevented from scoring by tackles close to the try line. In the 17th minute, Webster-Mansfield broke the defensive line and passed to Luke Smith, who moved towards the posts and scored. Meadows converted the try.

In his 100th appearance for the club, Sam Davis made a run from dummy half but was tackled short of the try line.

In the 24th minute, a Reynolds kick was contested by Morea and Ben White. White reached the ball first but knocked it dead in goal, resulting in a seven-tackle set for London from the 20-metre line. During this possession, Siliva Havili and Meadows combined to create an overlap, allowing Smith to score his second try. Meadows converted.

From the restart, London advanced approximately 80 metres. Lewis Bienek made a carry of about 30 metres early in the set. The ball was moved across the field and Meadows ran through the defensive line to score near the posts. In the 34th minute, Meadows scored again following a short pass from Voro.

Batley applied attacking pressure late in the first half, assisted by a repeat set, goal-line drop-out and London handling errors. Replacement hooker Alistair Leak scored from close range, and Reynolds converted, bringing the half-time score to 28–12.

In the 46th minute, from a scrum, Meadows passed left to Neil Tchamambe, who remained in the field of play and grounded the ball in the corner. A similar play shortly afterwards resulted in Voro being forced into touch near the corner.

In the second half, both teams experienced handling errors. A long pass from Meadows towards Tindall was not completed. Tindall later made a break down the right side and passed to Smith, but the ball travelled forward.

Batley forced goal-line drop-outs during the second half but did not score further points. In defence, Batley disrupted passing plays, resulting in additional sets for London.

In the 74th minute, from a scrum 10 metres from the Batley line, London moved the ball to the right and Meadows passed to Tindall, who scored in the corner for his second try.

Later in the match, Marcus Stock scored after receiving a pass from Meadows approximately 10 metres from the try line. The conversion was successful, bringing Meadows’ personal total to 16 points.

London Broncos: 1 Morea Morea, 5 Liam Tindall, 20 Brandon Webster-Mansfield, 2 Elliot Wallis, 26 Neil Tchamambe, 23 Gairo Voro, 18 Jimmy Meadows, 16 Epel Kapinias, 9 Sam Davis, 10 Emarly Bitungane, 11 Luke Smith, 12 Jack Croft, 13 Siliva Havili.

Replacements: 6 Connor O'Beirne, 19 Ben Hursey-Hord, 17 Marcus Stock, 24 Lewis Bienek. 18th man: 8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard

Tries: Tindall (5, 73), Smith (17, 25), Meadows (28, 34), Tchamambe (47), Stock (77)

Goals: Meadows 4/8

Drop goals: None

Sin-bins: None

 Batley Bulldogs: 1 Robbie Butterworth, – Joe Burton, 20 Jack Hudson, 3 Ollie Greensmith, 25 Derrell Olpherts, 6 Ben Reynolds, 14 Ben White, 27 Ronan Dixon, 18 Evan Hodgson, 17 Liam Kirk, 11 Dane Manning, 15 Nyle Flynn, 13 Robson Stevens.

Replacements: 9 Alistair Leak, 16 Michael Ward, 24 Akim Matvejev, 22 Jay Scriven. 18th man: Paul Foulstone

Tries: Hudson (8), Leak (40)

Goals: Reynolds 2/2

DG: None

Sin-bin: None

Referee: Ryan Cox

HT: 26–12

Penalty awarded count: 3–3 

Match Report by David Ballheimer