Pitch is very much like Fev, but it'll be cold, it always is " up the mount".

Barley know how to play this pitch, they kick down hill into the corner & hold you into the 10 m line, you either bust out physically then try to
Kick up hill, they will kick it early back into the corner, you tire on the repetition even making an error thus they strike & repeat, they have won more matches doing this than lost !
However, you can break out with play but its very difficult to do it for 40minutes.
Alternatively, when playing down hill you must score high . the pitch size is very small which causes their attack to be on top of you all the time, I would keep vangana in the team for size.

Vagana is not in the 21 so that’s no option.

I don’t think repetition will cause us issues. Our defensive resilience has been top draw. I do think with it been a narrow pitch the forwards are going to be key to putting us on that front foot and we will need some strong carries. I’m confident in the players and coach with what I’ve seen so I’m looking forward to it.

Best away day in the championship IMO recommend getting in the ground early and sampling the beer garden and the superb food in the ground.

Honestly, there's no comparison. Even before the Fev pitch was (partly) levelled out a few years ago, Mount Pleasant was always far steeper. At Fev it's a mild slope that often has little impact on the outcome in terms of 1st half v 2nd half scorelines. At Batley the impact of the hill is huge unless the game is very one-sided - being 12 points down at half time having played uphill is usually a good outcome (winning the toss so you can play uphill 1st half is considered a big advantage) .The unorthodox nature of the pitch just adds to the interest in my view.

As others have said, Batley is the best away day in the division - some great pubs not that far away, a terrific beer garden, and some terrific food at ridiculously cheap prices in the stadium.

Where is best to park? We are coming from Sheffield.

I haven't been since the 90s, and my dad drove then!

We're parking in the centre, then walking up.

May take in a Wetherspoon breakfast along the way.

Yes, it's literally a hill not a slope, best rugby league ground in the country though superb set up these days

I reckon smith and lawford will be playing

If they do that’s great. I think it’s a narrow pitch for the forwards and bigger guys but if Powell wants some speed in the middle could make sense to keep Smith in.

Won’t be long before we find out

What a shocking half that was.

Is it that hard to give it to a forward and have them charge down the middle to tire out opposition?

Spreading it wide all half and knocking on, not finishing sets. Thevtsctics are completely wrong for this and now the team find themselves with a massive slog uphill this half.

Kay in the middle was such a horrible move today. Needed another forward to charge it down middle.

Batley hardly had to work that half and are probably looking like favourites going downhill.

Worst half of rugby in the new era. Pure dumb rugby.

Losing now

Long way to go yet.

That looks a bit more under control.
Need to keep concentration.

Just doing what we should have in first half. Run it on hard with the forwards down the middle.