This was an opportunity for the Qualifiers’ two fairytale stories to take centre stage and on an afternoon when victory perhaps had greater importance for affairs off the field, neither side disappointed. Batley were ultimately the victors, edging Featherstone in a tense encounter.
Promotion will ultimately be beyond both sides – even if Batley are now level on points with the fifth-placed London Broncos, who occupy one of the two Million Pound Game places.
But the one real bonus of rugby league’s new structure when it was introduced last year was that it gave part-time teams the chance to earn huge financial rewards. And the immediate number-crunching following this dramatic West Yorkshire derby proves there are at least some merits to a system that often comes in for criticism.
Neither of these teams made the Qualifiers last year, meaning they are both set for a £300,000-plus increase in central distribution from the RFL next season, at the very least. But with them both battling in effect for seventh place in the eight-team mini-league, there was a £50,000 prize pot on the line for the winners.
For Batley, their financial outlook is heartening. One of the sport’s few clubs to turn a profit and consistently live within their means, they now look odds-on for a minimum £550,000 handout from the RFL. Last year they received only £150,000.
It is another tick in the box for John Kear, one of the sport’s great coaches who masterminded Sheffield’s famous Challenge Cup success of 1998. He will retire from coaching following the Qualifiers to join Wakefield as director of rugby: this is some way to bring the curtain down on proceedings. “It’s big for the club and it will allow them to build,” he said. “It’ll make them stable for the next two or three years and it’s a great way to finish.
“They made a profit last year – they’ll make an even bigger one this year. Not many clubs can turn around and say they’re in the black, but this one can.”
The difference ultimately was Dominic Brambani’s field goal right on half-time. At that point it meant Batley turned a four-point gap into an 8-5 half-time deficit, but a penalty from Pat Walker and a late try for Wayne Reittie ensured their first win in the Qualifiers.
They led 4-0 when Reittie touched down after an engrossing opening quarter, but Featherstone responded with tries from Luke Briscoe and James Duckworth – however, the Bulldogs eventually had enough to secure a priceless two points in the race for that extra prize money.
Next up for Batley? A dream trip to Super League champions Leeds on Friday night. “Some of our blokes will usually go through turnstile F on a Friday at Headingley but they’ll go through the players’ entrance this time,” Kear said. They need to savour every second of it.”
Batley Scott; Reittie, Squires, Ulugia, Brown; Walker, Brambani; Hirst, Leak, Rowe, Day, Bretherton, Gledhill. Interchange Smeaton, Lillycrop, Blake, Brown.
Tries Reittie 2. Goal Walker. Drop goal Brambani.
Featherstone Hardman; Duckworth, Briscoe, Taulapapa, Foster; Craven, Thackeray; Griffin, Ellis, Baldwinson, Walters, Spears, Ormondroyd. Interchange Day, Knowles-Tagg, Cooper, Snitch.
Tries Briscoe, Duckworth. Goal Foster.
Referee J Cobb. Attendance 1,131.
