Warrington Wolves pair feature for North Wales Crusaders in win at Batley Bulldogs

Gene Ormsby and Dec Patton were on the bench as dual registration players with Wolves' new partner club.

Former Wolves three-quarter Stuart Reardon and prop Ryan Duffy also figured.

Patton's kicking had a part to play in the friendly success at Mount Pleasant, while Ormsby found himself in the sin bin for a spell.

Although Crusaders had the task of playing up the hill in the first-half, they went into the break with a healthy 14-6 lead after largely dominating the opening period.

And, when the Wrexham side played downhill in the second-half, they took advantage.

Despite having a man sent to the sin-bin, in the end, the ten-point losing margin flattered Batley slightly and Crusaders could have recorded more points.

Crusaders threatened the Batley line on several occasions early on and, eventually, the pressure told, as Warringtonian Jono Smith barged his way over the line.

But, when the hosts launched a first real attack, they took the lead, with Mitchell collecting Southernwood’s pass to force his way over the line, despite the attention of several Crusaders defenders.

The visitors had a Christiaan Roets try ruled out as he was pushed into touch down the left, but Rob Massam did put Crusaders back in the lead when he touched down in the corner.

And it didn’t take them long to extend their lead; Patton, put up a kick to the right corner for Scott Turner to score.

Crusaders started the second-half as they’d finished the first, with Smith bulldozing his way over the line for his second try of the game.

The Bulldogs did reply quickly, though, as despite being wrapped in a tackle on the wing, Shaun Ainscough managed to hack the ball forward with his boot for Reittie to finish in the corner.

But the Welsh side crossed for a try within a matter of minute: a near replica of Turner’s earlier try. Patton put up a ball and Turner jumped highest to claim the ball and score.

As Crusaders looked to build on their lead, Reittie collected a loose pass and broke upfield. Ormsby tracked back to make the tackle, but he was sin-binned for a professional foul after holding Reittie down.

That did start to create overlaps for Batley and Shaun Squires went over for his side’s third of the afternoon.

But, instead of Batley building momentum as a result of that try, Crusaders hit back immediately through Reardon, who collected Scott Turner’s smart tip on to score untouched.

Crusaders had further opportunities to cross the whitewash, before Batley added a consolation late on when Squires was put through a gap in the Crusaders line by Leatherbarrow to grab his second of the day.

BATLEY BULLDOGS 1 James Craven 2 Wayne Reittie 3 Shaun Ainscough 4 Ayden Faal 21 Jordan Grayston 6 Cain Southernwood 7 Scott Leatherbarrow 16 Sean Hesketh 9 Alistair Leak 21 James Brown 11 Alex Bretherton Lee Mitchell 13 Luke Blake Subs: 17 Joe Chandler 9 Anthony Nicholson 10 Alex Rowe 23 Brad Day Jordan Anderson 12 Sam Scott Curtis Sidebottom 18 Tom Lillycrop 20 Shaun Squires Tries: Mitchell (18), Reittie (50), Squires (64, 79) Goals: Southernwood (2/4)

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS: 1 Tommy Johnson 2 Scott Turner 17 Stuart Reardon 3 Christiaan Roets 5 Rob Massam 14 Karl Ashall 7 Jamie Dallimore 16 Joe Burke 9 Callum Wright 8 Jonny Walker 11 Jono Smith 23 Mark Hobson 13 Gary Middlehurst Subs: 20 Elliot Davies 10 Ryan Duffy 24 Alex Davidson 26 Callum Wright Dec Patton Gene Ormsby 4 Matt Reid 21 Ian Mort Tries: Smith (7, 44), Massam (34), Turner (39, 57), Reardon (67) Goals: Johnson (2/5), Mort (1/1) Referee: Matt Thomason HT: 6-14 Attendance: 300 (est)

MOTM: Gary Middlehurst – it’s hard to pick out the best of the bunch, but Middlehurst put in an 80-minute shift and caused Batley problems all afternoon.