Jo Parkinson is the young hooker. Goes for the thigh every time, takes some timing does that. Get one wrong and you're out for the count!

Really disappointed with the game today. It was totally useless as a warm up friendly for the coming season. We have 5 friendlies and should be playing at least 4 or 5 of the first team squad in each of these games, today was a complete waste of time as the lads that played today could have been incorporated in the next 3 or 4 games along with some seasoned players which would have given them a lot more confidence than today`s rubbish.
Our forwards were totally outplayed, getting brought down with ease, but the Batley forwards were crossing the gain line most of the time.
Not sure yet about McNally, made a good move and pass for the first try, but after that he was playing behind a badly beaten pack and we all know a half back can not shine when his pack is getting pushed back all the time.
I believe the club and coaching staff did not show any respect for Batley or the travelling supporters of which I would say could have been half the crowd.
We may not have won the game even with 4 or 5 fringe first teamers, but that did not matter as it was just a friendly, but at least it would have been a closer contest and given the supporters something to clap about to keep the hands warm on a very cold day.

I certainly would not like to have been tackled on it. Very hard indeed.

This was nothing to do with a warm up friendly for the first team and the coming season. How can you think that with the team that was selected?

This was about seeing how the youngters stood up to good opposition.

I thought the forwards stood up well given the difference in size and experience.

Nothing more than a learning experience for the young uns.

I'm sure they are delerious that you thought it was 'rubbish'.

Stay at home next time and save your £10.

ATEOTD the squad was announced well in advance, it was no secret it was going to be kids.

What was the attendance?

True it was no secret what the squad was going to be. But I would have thought the Giants coaching staff would have put a team out that could compete with a Batley side that everyone knew was going to be near as damn it their strongest team. It was like putting lambs to the slaughter imo and wouldn't have done their confidence any good. These fixtures are put in place to help the lower league teams earn a little extra revenue but it's hardly a crowd puller for most Giants fans when most of the team are kids. To me it shows that as a club they don't give a toss about helping out our less fortunate neighbours. I'm sure there would have been a couple of higher profile fringe players who would have liked to have played today to put themselves in the shop window for the start of the season. The attendance was 801.




cannot disagree with that bit. The attendance was 801 on Boxing day Dewsbury via Batley it was 2,411..

No idea what the weather was like but it was snowing all day up here. It took the relatives 3 hours to get from Durham to York

the problem is that we seem to have too many pre season friendlies this year( 5 ) and there was no problem with playing the kids yesterday what they needed was some first team forwards playing.

As it is we have two forwards out injured and are short in the pack anyway. there is no way that we could risk any more injuries. look at wakefield losing Blanch for 8 weeks in their friendly.

Both Whatuira and Nathan Brown are out injured which is why they missed the rugby legends tournament. things are so bad that Bumper turned out to play for the All golds

I'm not sure it was all that bad TBH.

On the back of the penalty count we copped it was always going to be hard work for them and I thought the lads gave a half decent account of themselves. Had they shown a bit better discipline then they wouldn't have been far away IMO although they never looked like they would win. They need to be exposed to that kind of stuff if they're ever going to make it and I think it showed they have improved as they copped some results like that last season in the academy and that was basically the same team.

Match report from Batley official site. http://www.batleybulldogs.co.uk/index.p ... 1&Itemid=1

Match report from Batley official site. http://www.batleybulldogs.co.uk/index.p ... 1&Itemid=1

Ponner, you are Durham Giant and I claim my £5.