On many occasions already this term Rovers have failed to perform the entire match which has seen the Robins struggle to kill off their opposition. The defeat at Batley was no different after Reilly's men strolled into an 8-0, before going behind 28-8.

Running down the famous Mount Pleasant slope during the first half failed to benefit the visitors despite Paul Mansson's converted try in the 10th minute, adding to an earlier penalty goal from the Aussie Scott Thorburn. Rovers failed to make use of their advantage as things started to go wrong after the opening quarter.

Anthomy Seibold was hauled back for being offside and Barry Eaton sent prop Steve Hill racing through the non-existent Rovers defence to score under the post. Eaton added the extras with the conversion to reduce the scores to 8-6 in the visitors favour.

Rovers managed to hold on to their lead until the 29th minute before Eaton's slide rule kick found second row forward Andy Spink to cross the whitewash for another converted try. Rovers then looked to have restored the lead when Paul Fletcher had a try disallowed for a knock-on, but the veteran spoke out of turn to concede a penalty.

 

Makali Aizue then cut through the home defence when he was half tackled only to roll over, get up and continue making the yards without a hand laid on him. Without ant signal or shout from the referee, the Papuan forward was penalised for persumably continuing when he was deemed tackled.

The Bulldogs third converted try on 32 minutes increased the home sides lead to 18-8, but a faliure to play-the-ball leading to the score was missed by Mr Nicholson as it clearly shot back catching Rovers on the back foot. It lead to Mark Sibson racing 30 meters to set up the opportunity for substitute Sean Richardson to go in.

Rovers were denied yet another try in the final minutes of the opening half as they looked for a way back into the contest. Andy Smith was pulled back when he received an alleged forward pass from skipper Seibold.

Batley opened up the second half with two tries in the first ten minutes, with Eaton masterminding everything. First he combined with Richardson and Danny Thomas, to send Spink in for his second try, then center Chris Spurr push Matt Calland aside for Eaton to put Sibson in for a deserved try that Eaton converted to give the host a 28-8 lead.

 

Batley were caught down the left by one of many forages by Craig Poucher and Mansson backed up to fox Paul Harrison and send Calland racing over. However Eaton's try on the hour interrupted the Rovers momentum, proving decisive as the Bulldogs extended their lead to 34-12.

The Robins mounted a fight-backin the final quarter when firstly Jon Aston gave his side hope when Jamie Bovill made good yards before Thorburn put the second row forward over. Minutes later Aizue and Paul Parker carved out an opportunity for a Craig Farrell try in the right corner, Thorburn's superb touchline conversion brought the Robins back into the game with little time remaining.

In the final minute the visitors scored the last try when Aizue fed Mansson, whose long, looping pass found substitute Nick Pinkney in at the corner. But the fight-back came a little too late as the final hooter sounded with the Robins only managing to reduce a 22 point deficit to a mere six points.