20-12 to fax

Batley 14 Panthers 26

I think most on here expect a tight game. I'm no exception and will go for Batley 12v23 Fax.

So it’s going to be Keyes and Jouffret in the halves and with Brandon not being mentioned as injured himself and Wood in the 9 slot.
Fullback could still be anyone from Martin, Walmsley or salty at a pinch, (no pun intended) depending on GW’s toe who gets picked and nails it ( pun intended.)

So Fax by a couple of scores if our D matches our attack, anything less and anything could happen.

I think it will be a very close game , I’m going Batley 26 v Fax 18.

Too much puff from fax without having delivered , batley to teach them a lesson in holding your counsel until you have actually done it . To be honest havent a clue which way this will go but hate people talking about what they are going to do before there is a ball kicked. Total nonsense.

Two teams split by points difference last season, one apiece in the league both games close , Batley keeping their spine so used to playing together and fax recruiting well but not played a lot together , batleys pitch probably not suited to our expansive game so it’ll be down to our forwards winning that battle in the middle I think we have enough ( if selected ) with Murray , Morris, tangata , gwaze , knowles , Kavanagh etc with wood controlling things round the ruck. If the wind is anything like today the fullback ll be in for some spiralling bombs . A bit of guile from Keyes n jouffret I think we’ll nick it . No silly penalties.

I will go for a score of batley14 halifax 22 and the team i would pick from the 21 man squad would be.

martin
saltonstall
arundel
worthington if fit if not mcomb
walmsley
jouffret
keyes
tangata
moore
larroyer
kavanagh
garside
knowles

murray
gwaze
barber
wood

It is tough to leave out mcomb or morris but i think larroyer as carried the ball with a bit more punch during preseason and with worthingtons toe injury mcomb might get a chance anyway.

Welcome to playing under pressure after spending some cash.

Obviously disappointed with the result but absolutely no arguments about who deserved to get it.
Our attack looked good at times in the first half but our defence was found wanting in the second.
Crucial scores for the Dogs either side of half time played a part but the biggest factor was the second half dominance by the hosts of both field position and possession.
Well played Batley.

Not really a huge surprise and typical game against Batley and a real game of two halves. Both teams piggy backed by the ref heading down the slop and Batley were just able to take advantage better. Before the season it were clear that we needed to add some size to our pack and nothing as changed, we were easily dominated in the 2nd half by the big Batley pack. Obviously losing Knowles early in the 1st half played a big part and it wouldn't be a surprise if that is a season ender.

I thought Morre was poor and dropped off tackles at an alarming rate, I still don't get the Joe Martin decision and after today nothing has changed in that respect. I really like McComb but for me he is a winger so having him at centre we lose some of that explosivness that he offers bringing the ball out. We really struggled to make ground up the hill, I really like Ward and Lilleycrop they really took it to us again and nobody really stood out in our pack. Gwaze looks like he will get knocked about quite a bit and I know Grix likes mobile forwards but we need some size. Hopefully we can get 1 or 2 players from Huddersfield in that respect as the season goes on.

Correct , after dominating for 39 minutes we were outplayed by Batley. Cheery Tree shuddersfield. Elland 1872 Porter 6.5% Mmm!

Close game nail biting towards the end
Wish Fax well for the rest of the season and especially for Brad Knowles
He left in an ambulance in a lot of pain we hope he has a speedy recovery

I agree with vast majority of that - rarely seen us play the Mount well and was worried as soon as I saw we were playing downhill first half.
Batley have always had a pack designed to play their pitch and they certainly had more impact than Fax's trundling down the hill. Real shame about Knowles as he's probably been our most dynamic forward.
Surprisingly disappointed with Keyes today who didn't impose himself on the game at all today - also if team was picked on performance rather than reputation our 2 wingers would be Salty and Mccomb- although Walmsley tries hard and needs better service has been decidedly underwhelming so far.

As my previous post saw this one coming . Gutless second half performance . Batley team spirit saw them win . We are not yet a team and clearly the pack have to gel and fight for each other. Batley are a very well run club supporters should be proud .