Sheffield Eagles 10 Batley Bulldogs 54: Eagles crushed by 10 tries to two

Dane Chisholm on the break for Eagles. Photo: Simon Hall

Sheffield Eagles slipped to their third defeat from four games after being thumped 10-54 by Batley Bulldogs.

Their unbeaten home start was brushed aside as the visitors ran in 10 tries to two.

A ruthless Bulldogs side put Eagles to the sword, with their victory over Toulouse all but a distant memory.

The day started well for Mark Aston’s side when they received an unexpected boost with Leigh Centurions half-back Lewis Foster included in the 17.

Menzie Yere wasted a good opportunity to open the scoring by spilling the ball and Eagles were punished as Alistair Leak crashed over the line from close range for the first try and Cain Southernwood added the extras.

Back came Eagles, who levelled proceedings when Elliot Minchella ran on to a pass before forcing himself across the whitewash, with Simon Brown converting.

After absorbing some heavy Eagles pressure, the visitors moved back in front through Brad Day’s converted try and they extended their advantage when Tom Holmes crossed, with Southernwood converting.

Worse was to follow before the break as Wayne Reittie scored Batley’s fourth try and then Day added his second as Eagles pressed the self destruct button.

They were hit with a hammer blow just after the break when former favourite Dom Brambani squeezed over, and Southernwood converted.

The floodgates were open after Will Hope was sin-binned for a shoulder charge and Reittie crossed for his second converted try.

Batley were in full control as converted tries from Macauley Hallett and a second score from Holmes saw them top 50 points.

Mike Hayward added more punishment, but the conversion was missed.

Dane Chisholm, pictured, grabbed a consolation score for the Eagles, but Brown missed the conversion.

Eagles: Chisholm; Lo, Yere, Whiteley, Blackmore; Brown, Fozard; Wheeldon, Burns, James; Straugheir, Scott; Minchella. Interchange: Millar, Trout, Hope, Foster.

Scorers: Tries: Minchella (15), Chisholm (74) Goals: Brown 1/2

Batley: Scott; Reittie, Smeaton, Hallett, Hayward; Southernwood, Brambani; Gledhill, Leek, Maher; Manning, Day; Farrell. Interchange: Holmes, Chandler, Harrison, Rowe.

Scorers: Tries: Leak (12), Day (22, 39), Holmes (30, 56) Reittie (36, 50) Brambani (46), Hallett (51), Hayward (63) Goals: Southernwood 7/10

Attendance: 662