With its glittering history of welcoming A-list luminaries like Louis Armstrong and Tina Turner to its world-famous Variety Club, Batley could be forgiven for failing to string up the bunting when Super League strugglers Castleford roll into town on Saturday.
In fact, the perennially over-achieving Championship club are relishing the prospect of a Betfred Challenge Cup sixth round clash against a side whose head coach comfortably eclipses all those entertainment titans in the West Yorkshire town’s affections.
Craig Lingard’s career as first a player then head coach of the Bulldogs left such an impression that he has a section of terracing named after him at the club’s famously wonky Mount Pleasant stadium, and his departure for Cas last year was never going to threaten those bonds.
The historic knockout competition, of which Batley were the first winners in 1897, gifted Lingard an immediate return to the club whom he helped reach an improbable Championship Grand Final in 2022, as well as their first ever trip to Wembley in the 1895 Cup last year.
Small wonder his successor as head coach, Mark Moxon, who had previously served as an assistant for 12 years including the last three under Lingard, sees no reason to rip up the well-established blueprint that has served the unassuming club so well.
“We don’t really evolve at Batley,” Moxon told the PA news agency. “It’s about continuation, no shadow of a doubt. We live within our means year after year, and we continue to compete in a division in which the other teams have all historically spent much more money than we have.
“Craig is a bit of a club legend, and he had great success here that led him to Super League. I learned a lot from him as I continued my development. It’s important to maintain the culture that Craig was a part of. It’s all about working hard and togetherness, and I guess that’s the key to our success.”
Having pushed Featherstone close in their first game of the new Championship season on Sunday, Batley have every right to fancy their chances against a Castleford side who have made a dismal start to their new Super League campaign, failing to pick up a point from their first five games.
And while Lingard will draw on his experience to equip his players to cope with Mount Pleasant’s precipitous pitch, Moxon believes it could still prove a crucial factor in the underdogs holding their own against their top-level opponents.
“Craig might know all about the pitch but he’s not playing,” added Moxon. “There will be a few lads amongst them who have not played at Batley before. We are used to teams coming here and coming out of the tunnel and they can’t believe the steepness of the hill.
“Obviously we’re both very aware of each other’s game-plan. They’re going to be stronger and fitter than us, but the longer we are able to compete they might get nervous. It’s the kind of tie that you relish, and magic things can happen in sport.”
A full-time firefighter at Leeds-Bradford airport, Moxon has no immediate ambition to follow Lingard into the elite, and is instead content to work to create new memories at a club and town where Hollywood stars and Hollywood-style scripts are intertwined.
“I’ve got a job that I like and it’s secure, and the jump to go full-time is a big step, especially in professional sport where it can be quite fickle,” added Moxon.
“I love it here at Batley. It’s been a long time since we got anywhere near to winning the Challenge Cup, and the next best thing is to draw a Super League team at home. It should be a great occasion.”
Coaches pleased as Arnett Gardens, Mount Pleasant share spoils in lively 1-1 stalemate
Though they would have preferred to take all three points, Arnett Gardens Head coach Xavier Gilbert and Davion Ferguson of Mount Pleasant took heart from a point as their teams played out a 1-1 stalemate in an entertaining Wray and Nephew Jamaica Premier League clash at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Wednesday evening.
Kimani Arbouine (12th) gave Arnett Gardens the lead before a Kimoni Bailey, now sporting a low cut instead of his signature dread locked, secured Mount Pleasant a share of the spoils with a 42nd minute strike, as both teams showed attacking flair and tactical discipline, in patches, as well as moments of real drama.
With the point, the ‘Junglists’ slipped to eight position on five points, while their St Ann-based opponents extend their tidy start to the campaign in fifth on seven points from three games.
Ferguson, an assistant to Head coach Theodore Whitmore lauded the performance by his players.
“We have managed to bring some good players to St Ann over the last two seasons, but overall I think we have a very good unit. I think we gave up a very easy goal but we created enough chances in the game to actually win the game. That is something that is plaguing us, but at the end of the day a point away to Arnett in the jungle is a point that we are always grateful for,” Ferguson stated.
Meanwhile, Gilbert believes his team gave a good account despite the heavy underfoot conditions caused by persistent rain.
“It wasn’t one of our best performance but we knew the conditions would have made things difficult. Still, I don’t think we were smart enough and the goal scoring opportunity that we got worked out how we wanted it to, but we didn’t do it consistently enough and that was my disappointment.
“But it was a tough contest for us, I am happy that we didn’t lose and that is important that we start getting back some points on the table. So it was a gutsy performance and we take it and move on,” Gilbert noted.
The contested started with high intensity as Mount Pleasant, in particular, sought to impose themselves early. They got off the first warning shot through Jean Claudio Rios Ferreira, whose right-footed effort from a distance, wasn’t far off target.
However, it was Arnett Gardens who found the breakthrough in the 13th minute when a mix up between Mount Pleasant’s goalkeeper Shaquan Davis and a defender, allowed Arbouine to pounce and fire home his third of the season.
Despite falling behind, Mount Pleasant didn’t back down. They responded with a few decent attacks which produced half chances that they failed to make count.
But, their persistence paid off just before halftime when Bailey fired home from a melee after Arnett’s custodian Richardo White spilled a freekick from Ferreira to level the scores at 1-1 at the break.
The second half was a similarly a thrilling affair, as both teams continued to attack with purpose. Arnett Gardens had a few chances to take the lead, particularly through the dangerous Arbouine, who went on the break in the 70th, but his effort was kept out by a firm hand from Davis.
Three minutes later, Warner Brown also went close for Arnett Gardens when he was allowed a free-header to Philando Wing’s weighted cross, but Davis again came up big to tip over the crossbar.
Mount Pleasant also had their moments, as their attacking front was ably aided by full-back and Man-of-the-match Gadial Irving, who caused problems with his distribution and vision.
One of those services should have secured the points for Mount Pleasant but Kyle Ming, who couldn’t keeper his header down in the 87th minute and so they were left to share the spoils.
Wednesday’s results
Waterhouse 2, Vere United 1
Montego Bay United 4, Molynes United 0
Arnett Gardens 1, Mount Pleasant 1
Harbour View 1, Portmore United 2
Racing United vs Cavalier (Postponed)
Dunbeholden FC vs Tivoli Gardens (Postponed)
Reggae Warriors fall to Wales in rain-soaked Rugby League international
Jamaica's Reggae Warriors suffered a narrow 22-16 defeat to Wales in a rain-drenched international rugby league encounter on Tuesday at The Gnoll in Neath. Despite leading 10-0 early in the match, Jamaica couldn’t hold off a determined Welsh side that rallied in the second half to secure the victory in front of 1,300 fans.
Jamaica, fielding a new-look squad with eight debutants, got off to a dream start. Ben Jones-Bishop opened the scoring in the fifth minute, slipping through the Welsh defense after a missed tackle. Just minutes later, Alex Young, brother of England international Dom Young, pounced on a loose ball following Kieran Rush’s precise kick to double the lead for the Reggae Warriors.
With a 10-0 advantage, Jamaica appeared to be in control, but Wales adapted to the worsening conditions. Rhys Williams, Wales' record-cap holder, sparked the Welsh comeback just before halftime, scoring a crucial try after running onto a kick from captain Elliot Kear.
The second half saw Wales take advantage of the wet conditions and gain momentum. Debutants Huw Worthington and Max Clarke both crossed the try line, giving Wales the lead for the first time in the match. A strong performance from Gil Dudson, named man of the match, and a try from Matty Fozard stretched the Welsh lead, sealing the comeback victory.
Jamaica struggled to find their rhythm in the second half, especially after losing playmaker Kieran Rush to injury early in the period. Despite a late try from Joshua Hudson-Lett, Jamaica couldn’t close the gap, leaving the final score at 22-16 in favor of Wales.
For Jamaica, the match provided valuable experience for a squad featuring many new players, including the only non-UK-based player, Alex Young of the Sydney Roosters. Despite the loss, the Reggae Warriors showed promise and will look to build on their performance in future fixtures.
Match Summary
Wales (4) 22
Tries: Williams, Worthington, Clarke, Dudson, Fozard
Conversions: Fozard
Jamaica (10) 16
Tries: Jones-Bishop, Young, Hudson-Lett
Conversions: Carter
Penalty: Rush
The defeat marks another step in Jamaica’s journey to establish themselves on the international rugby league stage as they continue to gain experience against quality opposition.
Reggae Warriors name 20-man squad to face Wales on October 15
Jamaica has called up a 20-man squad to prepare for their international clash with world number 17 Wales, at the The Lextan Gnoll in Neath, on Tuesday, October 15 (kick-off 7.30pm).
Most players called up play in English competitions, the lone exception, Alex Young, is currently signed to the Sydney Roosters in Australia. Included are veterans such as Ben Jones-Bishop, James Woodburn Hall, Mo Agoro, Jordan Andrade, Keenen Tomlinson, and Ross Peltier. However, there are also plenty new faces with possible debutants coming from Darius Carter, Delaine Gittens-Bedwards, Jaden Dayes, Leo Skerritt-Evans, Aaron Smalls, Keenan Ramsden and Joshua Hudson-Lett.
Injury has forced the withdrawal of inspirational captain Ashton Golding (Huddersfield), Jerome Yates (West Warriors) and Greg Johnson (Moldgreen), whilst Michael Lawrence (Bradford) and AJ Wallace (Huddersfield) are unavailable due to club duties. Resulting, former captains Joe Brown and Jy-Mel Coleman, both instrumental in Jamaica’s qualification to the 2021 World Cup, have made themselves available if required, with Coleman doubling as an assistant coach.
Jamaica will be coached by Rhys Lovegrove, who is Academy Head Coach at Super League club Hull KR. He commented, “I’m really honoured and privileged to be part of the coaching set and excited to see some new faces pull on the jersey to face Wales”.
Director of Rugby and Head of Jamaica’s men’s programme Romeo Monteith added, “As an organisation we are happy to face Wales at their home. They are a good team with a proud history in rugby league. Jamaica remains committed to playing at least one international in Europe annually and we hope to collaborate more often with Wales in the future. The game helps them prepare for their European World Cup qualifiers, and it helps us in our preparation for the World Series in 2025 as it’s vital our professional players get a chance to play together as often as possible.”
The Reggae Warriors played their last men’s international against the USA on December 3, 2024, going down 26-30. After Wales, Jamaica faces Canada in Toronto on October 19.
JAMAICA SQUAD:
Delaine Gittens-Bedward (Barrow Raiders), Joshua Hudson-Lett (Bedford Tigers), Leo Skerrett-Evans (Castleford Tigers), Aaron Small (Cornwall), Keenen Tomlinson (Featherstone Rovers), James Woodburn-Hall (Halifax), Darius Carter, Kieran Rush (Huddersfield Giants), Chris Ball (London Broncos), Alex Brown (Moldgreen ARLFC), Mo Agoro (Oldham), Jaden Dayes, Jordan Andrade (Rochdale), Ben Jones-Bishop (Sheffield), Keenan Ramsden (Siddal), Alex Young (Sydney Roosters), Isaac Coleman (York Acorn), Joe Brown, Jy-Mel Coleman, Ross Peltier (Unattached)
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