Batley roll back the years in march to final

Batley 26 Oldham 16

It is a long time since the glory days at Batley. The Gallant Youths, as they were known in their heyday, would be gallant great-grandfathers by now. But their successors revived some of the old spirit at Mount Pleasant with a win that takes them to within one match of the Northern Ford Premiership Grand Final.

Victory at Leigh next week would make the Bulldogs, as they now style themselves, unlikely finalists.

On this showing, their chances cannot be discounted because, under the coaching of Paul Storey, they have become a thoroughly well-organised side.

"They've done me proud for the past three weeks,'' said Storey. "It's the spirit within the team that's carrying them through. Some of our defence today was tremendous.''

Equally tremendous was the way Batley began the game, scoring after just 38 seconds when Steve Hill charged through and the prolific Craig Lingard was there in support.

In a frantic opening phase, Oldham hit back three minutes later through David Gibbons, only for Batley to score again when Dave Rourke scooped up a loose ball.

Again Oldham, a major success story themselves this season after all their off-field troubles, responded with a try by Joe McNicholas from Gareth Barber's cross-kick.

Dean Lawford's two conversions, against two misses by Barber, gave Batley an advantage, which was stretched before half-time when Glen Tomlinson took Lawford's pass and dummied his way through a gap.

Oldham, 10 points down and playing up Mount Pleasant's infamous slope, faced an uphill task in both senses, but they showed some signs in the second half of being able to accomplish it. After sustained pressure, Phil Farrell forced his way over the Batley line and two goals from Barber reduced the deficit to two points.

But Batley were not going to allow the club's biggest day for decades to be spoiled. Two drop goals from Lawford and the conversion of Paul Harrison's try saw them home, although Mark Too-hey's try-saving tackle on Jon Goddard was equally as important.

"The belief has been growing in them,'' said Storey. "If we go to Leigh with that spirit, who can tell?''

Batley: Lingard, North, Simpson, Maun, Williamson, Tomlinson, Lawford, Naidole, Lythe, Hill, Rourke, Spink, Horsley. Substitutes used: Cass, Harrison, Toohey, Bates.

Oldham: Dodd, Sibson, A Gibbons, Goddard, McNicholas, Barber, Roden, Molloy, Hough, Clegg, Farrell, Henare, D Gibbons. Substitutes used: Brennan, Johnson, Cowell, Guest.

Referee: R Connolly (Wigan)

* The New Zealand Warriors have become the first club from outside Australia to reach the National Rugby League Grand Final, beating Cronulla 16-10 with a late try from John Carlaw. They will now meet the Sydney Roos-ters, who were led from the front by Great Britain's Adrian Morley in their 16-12 win over the Brisbane Broncos.

* The Rugby League is to investigate an incident in the Super League play-off game at Leeds on Friday when Lee Jackson scored a try for Hull from a penalty after appea-ring to have two balls in play. Leeds, who won despite that, will play Wigan, victors over Castleford on Saturday, this Friday.

* Workington reached the National League One final after a 27-16 win at Dewsbury yesterday.