CENTURIONS LATE SURGE DENIES THE STURDY BULLDOGS

BATLEY BULLDOGS 12 V LEIGH CENTURIONS 26
KINGSTONE PRESS CHAMPIONSHIP @ MOUNT PLEASANT FOX'S STADIUM
14 JUNE 2015---3PM

BATLEY RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB @ MOUNT PLEASANT

'Get yourself to Batley you will love it its a great club' was a suggestion given by quite a few people I had come across while visiting other rugby league clubs and non league football supporters too.  Well with a chance to make a visit for this Sunday encounter against table toppers Leigh Centurions the blog has to say to all those promoters of Batley..........you were spot on.  The history associated with the town and club just wowed me on this dull and rainy stay in both the centre and at the ground.
The game added to the day with Leigh storming to an early 10-0 lead in nine minutes before Batley's sheer determination overhauled the score to lead 12-10 in the second half before Leigh scored three tries in 8 minutes near the end to make the score look far more comfortable than it was.  Added to that a mass brawl a couple of minutes before the hooter saw a couple of players sent off and Gareth Hock sin binned for a second time in the game.
As ever more of the game later but for now a bit about the blog setting off for a second trip to Yorkshire and I wouldn't have guessed that I would have been in Dewsbury twice within 24 hours when a visit before had never registered.  Early start from base station and it was the usual fun on Cross Country service to Leeds which was pretty full and with no seat reservation system working you risked being moved at any time.  Change at the expansive Leeds station for a short trip to Dewsbury station where another change would facilitate a 3 minute trip to Batley.  Well the latter part of the journey did not quite come about thanks to Ben and Joe who had recognised the blog and I had previously met the former at a few non league games.  We  had a good chat and they informed me that they were walking to Batley just a mile up the road after they departed to look round Dewsbury I had a look at a local map and realised the half an hour wait for the train would be put to better use meandering down Bradford Rd into Batley were I would arrive about the same time as the train anyway.

THE FORMER BATLEY VARIETY CLUB NOW THE FRONTIER

The exit from Dewsbury takes you through Batley Carr and with many buildings standing empty its a sad site of a former glory soon to be matched by the impressive buildings of the town of Batley itself.  To anybody from the Yorkshire TV region, admittedly much on the edge and not in Yorkshire for me, this town now re awakened some 70/80's highlights.  First up on the right was the massive Batley Variety Club, now under the name of the Frontier, which housed some massive entertainment names and continues to do so to this day.

NO ITS OK I WOULD RATHER WALK!

As the road approached the centre of Batley there was clearly a theme of entertainment with Legends awash with large modelled stars from Elvis to blonde on American car, sadly many of the establishments around the two mentioned seemed to be closed down.  One of the TV advert highlights of my teens was Mike's Carpets were the blonde haired Mike proudly and enthusiastically promoted his company and now before me was one of his 3 shops, another memory backtrack.  Later on in the town centre I came across the election office of new Labour MP for Batley and Spen Cox and this once again made me remember long term Conservative MP for the constituency Elizabeth Peacock.  There is one more important Batley connection to follow in a few sentences needless to say it takes the biscuit or 'biscwuit'.

APPROACH TO THE TRAIN STATION

With the afternoon just commenced the blog had quite a little time to wander around the town and although there were many signs of a struggling former mill town with empty shops and empty industrial units, but looking around you could only imagine the hustle and bustle of this town in its prime.  One of the most impressive highlights to was me the superb buildings from the town hall, library art gallery, Methodist church and I have to say the approach to the railway station.
The station approach features some unbelievable three to four storey high buildings with cobbled roadway once again the sad fact is that most of them were run down or unoccupied but you could only stand admire and imagine the 'good times'.


VINNIE FROM FOX'S BISCUITS

The town centre as the obligatory T's supermarket right in the centre with a steady main shopping street.  Just on the edge of the town centre is the massive Fox's Biscuits factory of course famous for many products of fantastic quality for the biscuit aficionado.  More so to the companies profile raising has been the introduction of the 'biscwuit' fan panda Vinnie.  The Fox's site covers a massive area from its front through to factory and distribution centre which hopefully will long remain in this town and retain its current as well as historical association.  From the external signage there is it appears a shop for product sales sadly this was a Sunday and the chance to bring home a transporter load of chocolate biscuits was denied to my ever expanding waistline.
So to the approach to Batley's ground steep hill climb with biscuit factory in sight all the way as its pure size continues to astonish.  At the summit Batleys cricket ground is preparing for action on this drizzly rain effected day with the approach down to ground via a narrow road which is already quite busy just short of two hours before the kick off time. 
A handy early arrival had allowed me to see the Leigh Centurions arrive off their coach and get a quick picture of Fui Fui Moi Moi the Tongan star of todays visitors.

SO GOOD THEY NAMED HIM TWICE, FUI FUI MOI MOI

WOOF!

So with an hour and a half to kick off it was time to enter the gloriously named Mount Pleasant with all the evocative emotions that name brings to rugby league and non rugby league fans alike, the ground has now also taken on the sponsors name Fox's Biscuits Stadium. 
I just wonder how Vinnie the Panda and Batley's mascot the bulldog would get on, as Harry Hill would say 'there's only one way to find out.....fight, fight, fight.
To Mount Pleasant and having paid the £17 entrance, well worth it today, a programme for £1.50 and while doing the lap of the ground 3 for 2 50/50 tickets which today paid out a superb £291. 

FROM THE BEHIND POST COVERED TERRACE DOWN THE SLOPE

Of course the most noticeable thing about the ground is the famous slope with the pitch dropping away to the far end and slightly to the right hand corner. To the left of my turnstile entrance is a steep covered terrace with hospitality area to the rear this stand encompasses the changing rooms and club offices.
Going around in a clockwise direction we come to the first corner with a Yorkshire pie snack bar also supplying beers. 

WARM UPS ALL SET OUT READY TO BEGIN

A further seated stand covers half of the touchline and below this a newish flat uncovered  area which replaced the former crumbling terrace, I'm told.  Behind the bottom posts is a car park were entrants pay admission at the same time and enter the ground directly from here.  An uncovered terrace, about 11 steps deep, continues right the way around just short of the half way line on the over touchline.

SUPERB VIEWING OFF THE TERRACING

This area looks good and to a football fan brought up with standing its a treasure that I enjoy most of the game from.  On this touchline we have a further seated stand that straddles the half way line and to the top corner by our initial entrance a further standing terrace area similar in style to the main terracing described earlier.  Behind this touchlines stand is varying catering, hospitality and bar areas including further to the rear large toilet blocks. 

STAND AND TERRACING COMBINED

There is also a nice touch in this concourse area with a memorial garden dedicated to Batley's past supporters the added touch is a nice seat and railed off area to remember the clubs former loyal followers 

REAR OF STAND WITH EATING AND DRINKING CONCOURSE

Finally in the top corner is a club shop which although small is welcoming and has a variety of items for sale named appropriately 'The Doghouse'.  Immediately behind is a wind turbine which today is giving off a slightly worrying squeak as it generates some more power. 

DOGHOUSE WITH ITS OWN POWER SYSTEM

The walk was undertaken for most of the journey with Ben, Joe and their Warrington based mate Rob who were informative about the ground this being a repeat visit for them, we probably have identical pictures!

BEN, ROB AND JOE IN SEARCH OF THE ULTIMATE PICTURE

So to the game and table toppers Leigh with their star studded squad were looking to further enhance their promotion chase with a victory over third bottom Batley Bulldogs, managed by John Kear.
There was a large backing from Leigh in an attendance of 1,125 to somebody not familiar with the ground there looked more but the visitors were making lots of noise by the kick off but the one thing that struck me was the Yorkshire passion from the Batley fans no more so than in the second half when I stood on the side terrace with them.  That passion and encouragement to the cause encompassed the Bulldogs second half performance as fans and team got together to try to halt Leigh's charge.

LEIGH FANS WELCOME THEIR TEAM ONTO THE PITCH

The first ten minutes saw Leigh lead by 10 to 0 with Adam Higson and Liam Kay going over with Martin Ridyard converting the formers try. 

EARLY CONVERSION FOR LEIGH FROM MARTIN RIDYARD

At this stage with the rain driving across the ground things did not look good for Batley and you feared a heavy defeat but they mustered up a brilliant response and just before half time pulled it back to 10-6 with Wayne Reittie intercepting and sprinting half the pitch before Scott Leatherbarrow converted.

WAYNE REITTIE GOES OVER AND BATLEY BULLDOG GOES UP

The second period was a tremendously tough and feisty performance and when Bulldogs took the lead following Alistair Leak going over on 49 minutes and Leatherbarrow's conversion the home side were two too the good.  Batley knew what too expect from a Leigh side who are used to winning and they were defending with gusto and things looked even better when Gareth Hock was sin binned just past the hour mark.  But with 15 minutes to go Leigh devastated Batley's efforts with three tries in 8 minutes Higson for a second and third time with Jake Emmitt in the idle of the trio.  With the last two tries converted Leigh had now took a slightly harsh lead of 26 to 12.

PLAYERS SORT OUT WHO IS HAVING THE LAST FOX'S BISCUIT

In the closing stages there was still time for a mass brawl which following referee Kendall's consultations with his touch judges resulted in Jamie Acton for the visitors and Tom Lillycrop for Batley red carded.  Gareth Hock who had just returned to the fray was sin binned for the second time.  In time added on there was a further bust up following a high tackle on a Bulldogs player this time referee Kendall took no action.

BATLEY MANAGER JOHN KEAR [L] IN PRE MATCH DISCUSSION

This was a tremendous game in very trying handling conditions with the rain driving across the ground except for a half an hour period of the second half in which I took the opportunity to stand with the Batley fans.  Some good humour, feisty comments[!] and overall a tremendous Yorkshie passion for their team who had today pushed champions elect Leigh all the way and all though their undoubted strength and skill won the day.  Both sides received a massive ovation at the end it really was that sort of game a great advert for rugby league.
Quick dash out at the end to Batley station for the short hop to Dewsbury were the train to Leeds arrived within 10 minutes, fellow hopper Rob had left at this stage and Ben and Joe were good company to the big city before we departed on separate ways.  Enough time to learn though of Sam's beloved Atherton Collieries FC having a ore season game on Saturday 4 July versus Bolton Wanderers eleven with programme being issued.  The latter something Sam was delighted to have won programme of the year award for best publication in The North West Counties League, well done.
Departure back to base was reasonably standard on a busy train with many memories of a cracking day out in Batley and with its cracking rugby league club, a definite recommendation!

EARLY CROSS COUNTRY ARRIVAL