Karl Harrison’s Batley Bulldogs will be aiming to blast back after suffering a heart-breaking defeat against Sheffield on Wednesday night when they host Whitehaven on Sunday.

Batley were in control until the final five minutes, when Eagles prop Alex Rowe scored twice to give the hosts a 22-12 victory.

Harrison (pictured) has one or two knocks to ponder over ahead of the game which is part of a hectic programme of four in 12 days.

The Bulldogs are urging all their supporters to turn out in force and get behind the team at this week's vital game against Whitehaven. To try and encourage supporters the club has reduced all draft lager, cider and bitter to just £2 per pint through out the day.

Whitehaven coach Ged Stokes has no new injury concerns after last week’s disappointing defeat against Keighley.
Andy Gorski (pectoral) is missing for the rest of the season while David Ford (illness) and Richard Farrer (leg) are also still out.

But Stokes will be able to include yesterday’s new signings, former Kiwi international Motu Tony and St. Helens forward Paul Johnson, who has joined on dual registration.

Stokes said: “We’re after a bit of a reaction from the boys to last week’s game and the arrival of two new faces will help.

“We had a really good first half and then a really disappointing second half. Keighley punished every error of ours in the second half and I’m disappointed that we gave them a way back into the game.

“We need to find some confidence from somewhere, and that comes from within the players. We’re doing as much as we can to instil that back in them and get them back to the levels of confidence they had last year and the year before.”

Stokes added: “Batley are playing well and they’re always going to be there or thereabouts in the games they play. It’ll be a tough task but as the weeks go by we’ve just got to dig deeper and get better at what we’re doing.”

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