Sponsored by
Super Stringer hat-trick moves Eagles up to fourth as Batley are crushed
Sheffield Eagles 30 Batley Bulldogs 4
PROP forward Mitch Stringer produced a power hat-trick of tries to help Sheffield Eagles crush Batley Bulldogs.
Barnsley-based Stringer scored the Eagles' first try then closed down the game with a double in four minutes in the second half.
He was part of another clinical performance by the Eagles that keeps them firmly in the play-off places and lifts them into fourth place in the Co-operative Championship for at least 24 hours.
Stringer took the scoring honours but he was run close by former Doncaster forward Peter Green, who was outstanding in defence and taking the game to Batley.
Hooker Craig Cook celebrated his return to Don Valley with a try and stand-off Brendon Lindsay showed his organisation and experience with some controlled play.
"Our attitude and defence was outstanding - for 75 minutes we denied a team that's been scoring for fun," said coach Mark Aston. "We had set ourselves a target of winning the last three games and we've done that."
The visitors took an early lead when half-backs Paul Handforth and Mark Barlow sent in fullback Ian Preece for a try - but it was to be their only points of the game.
The Bulldogs were looking strong but the home defence was in a mean mood and the Eagles came back into the game helped by a string of penalties that handed over possession and position.
Centre Menzie Yere was clearly a target for the Batley forwards but the Papua New Guinea international hit back with a bone crunching tackle on Ashley Lindsay that drew gasps from the Don Valley crowd.
The Eagles levelled the score when Lindsay's quick inside pass from acting half-back put prop Stringer over on the burst.
Next a cross-field passing moved was finished by Grant Edwards' pass out of the tackle to centre Tangi Roparti who claimed his 11th try of the season.
Following a drive by the impressive Michael Haley taken on by Roparti substitute hooker Cook forced his way over the try line for a touch down.
Jonny Woodcock who was struggling with his place-kicking added the two points.
The Bulldogs problems mounted when former Eagles' centre Kevin Crouthers to the sin bin.
Shortly before the break Lindsay produced a long pass to Yere and the centre used all his raw power to touchdown near the corner to give the Eagles an 18-4 lead at half-time.
From the restart the Eagles seemed happy to soak up the pressure before going into the final 20 minutes with Batley tiring fast and Stringer made the game safe with two tries.
Roparti, Yere and Cook produced the break for Stringer to blast over under the posts. Four minutes later Stringer did most of the work as he wriggled and twisted his way out of tackles to touchdown. Woodcock kicked both goals.
Got a view? Add your comment below.
FREE E-MAG: Click here to read our Twenty20 Cup 2009 e-mag for FREE on line.
BUY ONLINE: Buy The Star - Monday to Saturday - for local news, sport, features and ads. Sign up on line by clicking here.
READ MORE
Football headlines.
Football gossip.
Blades news
Owls news
Reds news.
Millers news.
More rugby.
More boxing.
Sports columnists.
All sport categories
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sheffield
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -6 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
