Excellent game from us, marred only be some pretty naive defence particularly in the first half.

We toughed out a game in which we would probably have crumbled in times gone by and that was good to see. So many great tries, though, and whilst I don't think you could really quibble with Oscar getting MOM, I think there were half a dozen reasonable candidates, my own choice being a near call between Johnny Campbell (if he can play like that, how come he's figured so little over the last two years?) and Mikolaj Oledzki, (Leeds have an absolute diamond in that kid) and I give it to Campbell only because I thought his intercept try was probably the gamebreaker, which put the game out of reach for Batley.

Pity we don't yet have a bigger squad, as it would be nice to be able to keep most of the team out of the firing line against Fev in the cup and save them for Dewsbury in a fortnight. I think we should be approaching that game, if not quite like a cup final, at least as the important fixture it most certainly is.

I don't understand what's happened with Batley. I know they've lost John Kear and a few players - Keegan Hirst is a big loss - but they looked a shadow of the team we played last season.
They finished either 3rd of 4th last season so they will have received a decent wedge of central funding, they're still a part time team but I can't work out where any of that money has been spent?

Probably returned to the norm after an exceptional year last year. Under Kear they were fighting relegation most of the time and only just avoiding it on a couple of occasions.

Still doesn't explain where the money's gone.

Maybe they used it to support and strengthen their business rather than over paying players? (A lesson that a few clubs maybe could learn from... mentioning no names )

Hirst turned out and scored for Dewsbury yesterday; assume he's on dual reg from Wakey?

Wouldn't mind us going in for him if he get's frustrated not getting a shot in SL.

Typical arrogant Batley thought they could just turn up and win against the team that finished a few places below them last year. Sorry Batley you're not a big club anymore and just turning up expecting to win against the team at the bottom of the table isn't going to win over the neutrals.

I read that one thing they'd invested in was their training/gym facilities, so they don't need to spend money on private gyms/premises anymore. A capital expenditure which increases infrastructure quality and reduces outgoings in the future. Whether that accounted for all of it, or they're keeping a "rainy day" fund, I'm not sure.

They run a tight ship at Batley. No way will they have spent it all.
They've had a lot of work done around the club, but most of it has been done by sponsors, which will has kept the cost down.
The lads that extended their contract after their outstanding season last year got a nice bonus built into their new deals and they have a bigger squad this year, but they certainly aren't the type of club that will throw all the extra money at the playing budget.

Not a bad showing from us in second half...
The first half defence was very poor, Mendieka's defence is not good enough, Smith in that centre with Campbell for me..
Keyes and Pryce 6 and 7...Oscar played well too, J.C would have been my MOM though.

Leon was my man of the match. He ran with the ball more and caused problems for Batley each time.

As much as it was a good result, lets hope we don't fall in love with ourselves after that, there wasn't much between the two teams until the last few minutes.
Too many errors early in the tackle count.
Too many penalties given away.
No idea with attacking kicks.
No patience near the opposition line.

Still plenty to work on.

Second half was enjoyable...we were poo in the first half, our defence was very very poor, handling errors were under 10's level.
although when we play with confidence we look good with the ball in hand, for me we need a couple more experienced heads..

Has anyone read the T&A article with Beattie today?

Has he seriously said he hopes there is interest in our younger players or has he been misquoted??

I think it's a misrepresentation of the quote. He's bigging up the young lads saying that they're SL quality, but hasn't quite had the eloquence to make his point