Championship: Batley move level with leaders Leigh

John Kear's Batley moved level with Leigh at the top of the Championship

Batley drew level with Kingstone Press Championship leaders Leigh thanks to a 44-30 win over Dewsbury in the Heavy Woollen derby at the Tetley's Stadium, which witnessed 13 tries and three yellow cards.

John Kear's men never looked back after Alister Leek and Wayne Reittie scored two tries apiece inside the first 22 minutes to put their side 20-0 up.

Alex Brown, Shaun Ainscough and Brad Day scored the Bulldogs' other tries and Pat Walker kicked eight goals.

Luke Adamson, Josh Guzdek, Shane Grady, Dale Morton, Paul Sykes and Andy Kain scored tries for the Rams, who trailed 26-12 at half-time but cut their visitors' lead to eight points in their second-half revival.

Featherstone finished the stronger side to gain a 28-16 win over Sheffield Eagles at the Bigfellas Stadium.

The Eagles were level at 16-16 at the break after scoring tries through Rob Worrincy, former Featherstone winger Ben Blackmore and Keale Carlile, plus two goals from Michael Knowles.

Former Sheffield favourite Misi Taulapapa, Andy Ellis and Jamie Cording were first-half try scorers for Rovers, who clinched a fifth win of the season with late scores from Cording and Kyle Briggs, who also kicked four goals.

Half-back Gareth Moore contributed 20 points with two tries and six conversions as Halifax ended their three-match losing run with a much-needed 42-28 win over Oldham at Stalybridge, where they led 30-0 at half-time.

Like Moore, winger James Saltonstall touched down twice and Jake Eccleston, Mitch Cahalane and Miles Greenwood got Halifax's other tries in their third win of the season.

Will Hope sparked Oldham's second-half fightback with a brace of tries and others came from Jamal Chisholm, Adam Clay and Liam Johnson, with Steve Roper kicking four goals to add some respectability to the scoreboard.

Whitehaven triumphed 24-16 over Workington in the Cumbrian derby at the Recreation Ground.

Trailing 12-6 at the break, second rower Brett Phillips brought Town to within four points with a 55th-minute try but Liam Carberry sealed Whitehaven's third win of the season with a late try.

Workington had the final say when stand-off Jarrod Sammut grabbed a consolation try in the final minute and added the conversion.