Hull KR clinch League One title

Abstract

Both sides were then given questionable touchdowns with Rovers' Byron Ford appearing to head a high ball forward before collecting to score and [Batley]'s Mark Toohey touching down at the other end after snapping up a ball which appeared to have been knocked on.

Batley Bulldogs: Lingard; [James Stokes], Langley, Wainwright, Clemmie; J Gallagher, [Jay Duffy]; Rourke, [Kris Lythe], McLoughlin, Richardson, Spears, Toohey. Substitutes: Lindsay, Henderson, Fisher, Harland.

Hull Kingston Rovers: Cockayne; Steele, [Damien Courturier], Goddard, Ford; Murrell, Webster; Aizue, Fisher, [David Tangata-Toa]-Toa, Morrison, Netherton, T Gallagher. Substitutes: Weisner, Smith, Barker, Stephenson.

National League One

Batley Bulldogs 24

Hull Kingston Rovers 28

A second-half revival which bought three tries enabled the Robins to clinch the National League Championship - the first part of their season's twin target.

But the 12-man Bulldogs made them work all the way and after seizing the lead with the best move of the match managed to keep ahead until six minutes from time.

Rovers' coach Justin Morgan said: "We were made to battle every step of the way but thanks mainly to our front row boys we succeeded and that is what is important."

But Batley coach Gary Thornton was equally delighted. "We were so awesome no-one could have easily guessed which was the full-time squad and which was part-time. Our boys ran themselves into the ground."

It was a pretty even first half with Rovers' scrum-half James Webster wrong-footing three defenders on a 50-metre weaving run to the line for a converted try.

Batley hooker Kris Lythe evened matters with a slicing run to which Jay Duffy added the first of four goals.

Both sides were then given questionable touchdowns with Rovers' Byron Ford appearing to head a high ball forward before collecting to score and Batley's Mark Toohey touching down at the other end after snapping up a ball which appeared to have been knocked on.

A shock victory looked a possibility with Batley tries from James Stokes and Duffy.

But the hosts were back under the cosh when Anthony Henderson made a hash of collecting the ball and props Makali Aizue and David Tangata-Toa made rampaging runs which set up tries for Ford and Pat Weisner. Centre Damien Courturier converted both.

The game swung Rovers' way when Stokes was dismissed for an alleged strike off the ball before John Steel raced through to touch down the all-important try.

Batley Bulldogs: Lingard; Stokes, Langley, Wainwright, Clemmie; J Gallagher, Duffy; Rourke, Lythe, McLoughlin, Richardson, Spears, Toohey. Substitutes: Lindsay, Henderson, Fisher, Harland.

Hull Kingston Rovers: Cockayne; Steele, Courturier, Goddard, Ford; Murrell, Webster; Aizue, Fisher, Tangata-Toa, Morrison, Netherton, T Gallagher. Substitutes: Weisner, Smith, Barker, Stephenson.

Referee: J King, (St Helens).