A clinical final quarter from the Bulldogs, during which they scored over a point a minute, gave the home side a comfortable pre-season victory over a young Giants squad littered with players who undoubtedly have a big future in the game.
It wasn't until the 62nd minute, when Lee Greenwood crossed for his first try in Batley colours, that the result was sealed. The former England international winger nipping in out wide following a sweeping move to give Batley breathing space for the first time.
The Bulldogs dominated the early exchanges and when Danny Maun powered up the slope and over the line with only two minutes played, it looked as though Giants assistant Paul Anderson and his young charges were in for a long afternoon.
Batley continued to pile on the pressure and a further score looked inevitable with centre Maun and his wing partner Johnny Campell looking dangerous every time the ball reached the left flank.
The visitors held the floodgates closed though and a superb try saving tackle from full-back Elliot Hodgson, who many will remember for his performance on debut for Huddersfield against St. Helens in Super League XIV, gave his team the confidence boost they needed to begin to ask questions of their hosts.
With time on the ball, the Giants were able to mount some pressure on the home side and, more importantly, turn that pressure in to points. 19 minutes in, Kieran Murphy nipped over next to the posts before Greg McNally, who was showing why he is so highly thought of in the game with some neat touches, added the extras. The visitors were up and running.
Both sides were then temporarily reduced to 12 men 5 minutes later following a scuffle on the half-way line. Alex Brown, ironically due to join the Bulldogs for the 2010 season on a dual-registration arrangement, took exception to a high-shot from his future team-mate Kris Lythe. The ensuing scuffle resulted in referee Jamie Leahy brandishing the yellow card to Brown and Batley's Ian Preece, who should probably count himself lucky not to have been dismissed, after running in to deliver some punches of his own.
It was Huddersfield who controlled the momentum of the game following the stoppage, taking the lead on 29 minutes. Joe Parkinson's probing runs from acting half were carrying his out-muscled side up field throughout the game and, when the defending markers were slow to their feet ten metres from their own line, the young hooker took advantage to crash over under the posts. This was after Greg McNally's clever cross-field grubber had forced the error deep in home territory and given the Giants possession.
Their lead lasted just three minutes however, when another Maun break and offload from just over half way sent winger Campbell racing up the touchline, stepping Elliot Hodgson and narrowing the angle for a great home score. Gareth Moore kicked the conversion to make it 12-12 and it looked as though it would remain that way going in to the interval.
The Bulldogs had other ideas though and, with only seconds of the first-half remaining, Paul Handforth's clever cut-out pass found Campbell in acres of space. The ex-Thornhill Trojan crossed for his second and Moore's third goal of the afternoon gave Batley an 18-12 advantage at half-time.
The second-half began much the same as the first, with Karl Harrison's men keen to put the game to bed and take the sting out of an enthusiastic Giants challenge. With Byron Smith and Craig Potter smashing holes in the defence down the slope, many expected the young visitors to collapse.
Huddersfield had not read the script though and showed why competition for places in 2010 will be hotter than ever at the Galpharm Stadium. Jamie Cording, Iain Davies and Jacob Fairbank were getting through a mountain of work in defence and keeping the frustrated Bulldogs at bay.
But several handling errors in their own third and what seemed like a never ending wave of repeat sets in Giants territory eventually told and the valiant defensive guard eventually broke. Greenwood's try just after the hour settled the game as a contest before he grabbed his 2nd 5 minutes later after getting on the end of a teasing Handforth grubber. Moore missed his first conversion of the day but at 28-12 the match was won.
The Bulldogs weren't finished though. With 9 minutes remaining Mark Cunningham got his second try in as many pre-season games before Jonny Campbell completed his hat-trick with the try of the match. A move taken straight from the training ground culminated in a superb short inside-ball from prop Byron Smith that Campbell gleefully snapped up to stream through unopposed to round off the scoring.
The twenty eight point margin tells the story of a chasm in experience between the two teams. It does not, however, do justice to the spirit and promise shown by the youthful Huddersfield Giants squad that received rave reviews from both sets of coaching staff following the game.
Batley Bulldogs: Ian Preece, Lee Greenwood, Mark Barlow, Danny Maun, Johnny Campbell, Paul Handforth, Gareth Moore, Byron Smith, Kris Lythe, Sean Hesketh, Craig Potter, Jason Walton, Ash Lindsay. Subs: John Gallagher, Tommy Gallagher, David Toothill, Jack Watson, Mark Cunningham, James Martin, Chris Buttery, Jon Simpson, Eddie Kilroy.
Huddersfield Giants: Elliot Hodgson, Alex Brown, Kris Harrop, Sam Hendricks, Jamine Akadare, Greg Worthington, Greg McNally, Jamie Milburne, Joe Parkinson, Iain Davies, Jamie Cording, Shane Tasker-Howard, Jacob Fairbank. Subs: Sam Fletcher, Zak Johnson, Jamie Shepeard, Joe Fox, Aaron Briggs
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not bad for a multi-tasker!
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