Barrow Raiders earned a point at Batley Bulldogs in Round 9 of the Betfred Championship – despite playing much of the second half with no available substitutes It proved to be a battling point for a depleted Raiders side that lost Ryan Brown to a wrist injury Ellis Robson to a hand injury and Jamie Pye to a failed HIA in the opening 40 minutes Then a facial injury saw James Greenwood leave the field before the hour mark A blistering start saw the Raiders take an early 14-0 lead on the road Brad Walker knocking his side ahead with a penalty before converted tries from Tee Ritson and James Greenwood But the Bulldogs rallied well to lead 16-14 at the break scoring three tries in the final 10 minutes of the half Andrew Bulman helped the Raiders re-take the lead five minutes after half-time the winger scoring in the corner after Jarrad Stack had claimed a cross-field kick before getting the ball away to Luke Broadbent but Josh Woods’ missed conversion meant it remained a two-point ball game Charlie Emslie crashed over from close range after the Raiders had turned down the opportunity to draw level from a penalty and instead chanced their arm the home side scored out wide to make it 24-24 Bulldogs half-back Woods had the chance to kick the conversion to steal victory as the final hooter had sounded but his effort went wide and the spoils were shared There are now two weeks until the Raiders’ next outing and it will come in the south of France on Saturday 24 May as Paul Crarey’s side make the trip to Toulouse Olympique Want to be in with a chance of winning our £25,000 jackpot? Click here to join the Raiders Lottery! JAYDEN MYERS’ last-second try rescued a point for Batley as they played out a thrilling draw with a depleted Barrow Josh Woods had the chance to snatch the game away from the Raiders who were forced to play most of the second half with just 13 fit players but his conversion attempt missed from the touchline After a delayed start to the game due to a crowd emergency Barrow got the scoreboard ticking through an early Brad Walker penalty The in-form visitors then extended their lead when Tee Ritson dived over in the corner off the back of a break from Luke Cresswell with Walker converting Barrow added a second on the 20-minute mark when who had a clear path to the line for another converted try Batley had threatened throughout the half without finding the line but three late tries changed the complexion of the game entirely The fight back began when an audacious flicked offload by Josh Woods found Ollie Greensmith before Robbie Butterworth dummied his way over the line out wide for Batley’s second Woods could only convert Greensmith’s score a late offload found Alistair Leak who crabbed left before putting Ben White over for the game-levelling try Woods added the conversion to give Batley the lead at the break they were able to stop the slump and edge back ahead with the first try of the second half somehow keeping the ball alive on the last before Johnston kicked high to the corner where Jarrad Stack plucked it out of the air and put Bulman over in the corner Batley remained patient and led again when Elliott Kear acrobatically dived over in the corner following a slick set play Barrow had suffered first-half injuries to Ellis Robson and once James Greenwood was forced off with an eye injury the Raiders had to play out the final 25 minutes with just 13 fit players Batley had the chance to score the try which would have likely sealed the game when Jayden Myers claimed a chipped kick into the in-goal but the youngster bounced the ball as he attempted to ground it The home crowd were left ruing this error moments later as Charlie Emslie charged over the line for Barrow Walker added the conversion to give Barrow a four-point lead Myers atoned for his earlier error by crashing over to level the game Woods stepped up with the chance to win it but his attempt sailed wide and the points were shared GAMESTAR: Alistair Leak helped to change the game for Batley off the bench injecting pace and guile into their attack GAMEBREAKER: Josh Woods had the chance to win the game for Batley after the hooter but his conversion attempt from the touchline faded wide to the left Privacy Policy Sheffield Eagles ran riot against Batley Bulldogs as they scored nine tries in a 50-18 victory in the Betfred Championship this evening Head coach Craig Lingard made several changes to his side which were defeated by South Yorkshire rivals Doncaster last time out with Ryan Millar and Oliver Roberts coming into the side while Jack Bussey and Eddie Battye were promoted to the starting 13 after cameos from the bench last week Additions to the bench included Masi Matongo and Jack Mallinson coming into the team.  Looking to bounce back from their narrow defeat to Doncaster as they pinned the Bulldogs in their half from the off The early pressure caught Batley off guard and Ryan Millar displayed brilliant pace as he scored Sheffield’s first try of the game after forty seconds.  Ten minutes in and the Eagles continued their dominance as strong carries and running lines gave Morgan Smith the space to display some excellent footwork as he scored under the posts.  10 minutes later and the Eagles had doubled their try tally There was a moment of individual brilliance from AJ Wallace as he showed plenty of pace and power to break through tackles and score Sheffield Eagles’ third of the game a wonderful floated pass from Matty Marsh put the ball on a plate for Ryan Millar’s second of the evening.  The Bulldogs then quickly responded as Joe Burton scored their first of the game after some nice passing moves.   More smart interplay from the Eagles between Ryan Millar and Kris Welham gave the centre the chance to power down the right wing as he dotted down for the Eagles’ fifth try of the game.  The Bulldogs came back at Sheffield once again as Jack Render scored in the corner reducing the deficit just before the break.  The second half began in a very similar manner to the first as the Bulldogs were unable to cope with the pressure from the Eagles and some Bulldog possession on the Eagles’ try line before an excellent interception and offload allowed Cory Aston to run the length of the pitch and score the Eagles’ first of the second half.  Despite plenty of possession and pressure from the Eagles their next try didn’t come until the 68th minute when Reiss Butterworth picked up the ball inside the Bulldogs’ five meter line before twisting and turning to dive over the tryline.  The first real bit of pressure from the bulldogs came in the 74th minute as Oli Greensmith capitalised on a bouncing ball on the Eagles’ tryline and scored a consolation try for Batley.  as two quickfire tries from Tyler Dickinson and Aston rounded off what was a brilliant nine try display from the Sheffield Eagles.  The Eagles are next in action on Sunday 4th May where they will look to push on from this stellar performance as they travel to the Odsal stadium and face Bradford Bulls in the Betfred Championship Barrow Raiders will go in search of a fourth-consecutive league victory on Sunday as they make the trip to Batley Bulldogs in Round 9 of the Betfred Championship The Raiders bounced back emphatically from their 1895 Cup exit at the hands of Oldham at the start of April picking up a maximum of six points after wins against Widnes Vikings which has propelled them up to second in the standings After recording three straight league wins for the first time since 2022 Paul Crarey’s side will journey to West Yorkshire this weekend to face a Batley Bulldogs side who will be aiming to kick-start their season after picking up just two wins from their opening seven games we’ve compiled everything you need to know ahead of the fixture Head coach Paul Crarey previews this weekend’s trip to the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium The 21-man squad has been named ahead of Sunday’s clash against Batley Outside-back Shane Toal returns to the line-up for the first time since the trip to Bradford Bulls in Round 4 Front-rower Jamie Pye, who was welcomed back to the club on loan from Salford Red Devils on Wednesday Ryan King and Aaron Smith are the only two absentees from last Sunday’s victory against Doncaster Sunday’s Betfred Championship fixture at the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium Stadium kicks off at 3:00pm. Match tickets, available to buy online For supporters who cannot attend, live audio coverage will be available via BBC Radio Cumbria BATLEY BULLDOGS hope experienced second rower Lucas Walshaw will return after a knee injury to face Barrow at home on Sunday was injured during the first competitive game of the campaign the 54-0 Challenge Cup second-round triumph at Newcastle Walshaw missed a tenth match as Mark Moxon’s side lost 50-18 at Sheffield on Friday their fourth defeat in seven in the league That was the sixth instalment of Dane Manning’s eight-match ban for punching and Chairman Kevin Nicholas noted: “Missing both our regular second rowers as well as (prop) Luke Cooper (shoulder) has made things tough especially when we operate with a fairly small squad.” Will Lovell has played every minute in the Championship so far this season as he continues to show incredible durability and he says he is looking forward to being back at SW17 on Saturday keep the ball for the full set and kick to touch inside the Bulldogs 20-metre area Having taken a minute off the clock with the penalty goal the possession would have taken almost another minute and Batley would have had probably only two plays to go 80–90 metres Woods’ perfectly-weighted kick going about 11 metres The Broncos’ defence was as desperate as Batley’s attack at the hub of all of the Bulldogs’ best movements drew in a couple of tacklers before flicking the ball to Joe Burton He was able to get the ball out to Alfie Dean He beat the last tackler and touched down in the corner.  London players sank to their knees in exhaustion and misery while Batley’s men celebrated a much-needed victory Woods’ kick didn’t trouble the touch-judges 36 Logan Baylis Brow.18th man: 20 Paul Chitakunye Reiss Butterworth says the team are looking to put things right on Friday evening as they welcome Batley Bulldogs to the Steel City Stadium in the Betfred Championship. After a tough outing against Doncaster last weekend, the hooker believes the group is determined to respond in the right way, by concentrating on their own game and building some momentum. “I’m really excited for the game on Friday, I’m sure all of the boys will be,” Butterworth added. “I think that Batley are a group of lads who really work hard for one another; they turn up for each other and they’ve got some good strike in attack, and they’ll come here looking to make it tough for us. “They’ve been a very good side now for a number of years. They’ve got a good pack and some outside backs, and I can imagine they’ll be there for the full eighty minutes on Friday evening” The game carries a bit of extra meaning for the 26-year-old, who spent time with the Bulldogs back in 2018, and he speaks very highly of the club. “I got my first proper taste of men’s rugby league with Batley. Some of the lads are still there who I played with,” he explained. “It was a good group of lads; I enjoyed my time there. They’re a great club who really try and look after you when you’re there. “I’ve played at Batley, for and against them many times, and it’s a tough place to go. It’s always hard having to retreat up and down the hill, but I’m pleased that we’re at home this week  and hopefully we can get the win for the fans.” While results haven’t gone their way in recent weeks, Butterworth says there’s still belief in the group, and Friday presents an opportunity to build some momentum ahead of a busy May schedule. “It wasn’t really ideal for us losing to Doncaster last Friday, but hopefully we can now look ahead to tomorrow’s game, get the win and try to kick on from there,” he said. “When we started the season, we didn’t want to be anywhere near where we are currently in the league table, but hopefully we can get the win to help kick start our season." With Head Coach Craig Lingard preparing to face his former side for the first time since leaving to join Castleford, Butterworth feels his insight will be valuable, but the emphasis, he says, remains on the Eagles getting their own game right. “Craig will give us some insider knowledge about Batley and how they play, having previously coached them for a number of years. They’ve got a similar squad to what he’ll have had when he was there, but at the end of the day, we need to make Friday more about us and ensure we do what we need to do to get the win.” Win HappyPremiumSearch Rayogreatest hitswest yorkshirenewsThousands flock to Batley town hall to view rare Islamic artefactsThe exhibition has been described as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Last weekend over 3,500 people gathered at Batley Town Hall for a special exhibition showcasing Islamic artefacts dating back hundreds of years At the heart of the exhibition stood the Kiswa – a 29-foot-long cloth made of pure silk embroidered with Quranic verses in 22-carat gold and silver thread The Kiswa is used to cover the Kaaba – the sacred stone structure at the centre of the Great Mosque in Mecca – and is traditionally replaced every year during the Hajj pilgrimage on the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah Also on display were pieces from the tomb of Prophet Muhammad and ceremonial tools used for its cleansing Organisers say these items are so rare that even in Mecca and Medina they are not usually accessible to the public described the exhibition as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” He said: “These artefacts are incredibly significant to the Muslim world Some of the pieces are from inside the Kaaba and even from the tomb of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) items usually reserved for the Saudi royal family.” The exhibition was made possible by Sheikh Ilyas and was supported by the council’s Community Alliance group for Batley – Cllr Habiban Zaman and Cllr Adam Zaman – who contributed from their ward budgets to ensure the exhibition remained free and accessible to the public Councillor A Zaman commented: “We are absolutely delighted to have brought this event to Batley Batley Town Hall welcomed such a large audience for a spiritually enriching and historically significant occasion.” “The public were truly overwhelmed,” Cllr Hussain added learning about its creation and preservation and witnessing the tools used in the Kaaba’s cleansing offered our community a powerful opportunity to reflect on Islamic heritage and celebrate unity.” Councillor H Zaman commented: “This exhibition was more than an event — it was a moment of deep emotional and spiritual connection Witnessing so many people from different walks of life come together in reverence and awe was truly humbling It reminded us of the importance of preserving our heritage and passing these treasures of faith and history on to future generations.” Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app. Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited Company number: 1394141Registered office: Media House Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern London NW1 2PL All registered in England and Wales VAT no 918 5617 01H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898) The 'Road to Wembley' begins with the short trip to WF17 to face Mark Moxon's side - with a place in the quarter-finals the prize for the victors.  Brian Noble's charges are looking to continue their 100% start to the 2025 season with victories over Doncaster and Castleford Tigers in the Challenge Cup preceding league wins over London Broncos and Hunslet.  The Bulldogs kicked off their league campaign last weekend An impressive performance saw them bring back a point from a thrilling encounter against Oldham RLFC Tickets are only available via the Bulldogs or from the Bradford Bulls Team Shop You can still purchase via http://store.bradfordbulls.co.uk/ site by fluidcm.co.uk The Vikings suffered their first defeat of the season this afternoon to the Batley Bulldogs at the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium A late flurry from the hosts saw them score three tries in the final 10 minutes to overhaul an eight-point deficit to secure the two points The Vikings started the brighter of the two sides and raced into a 12-0 lead Matty Fozard burrowed over first from close-range before Rhys Williams finished off a neat move down the right Batley hit back just past the 20-minute mark when Jack Render crossed in the right corner to cut the deficit to six at half-time The Vikings extended the lead to eight thanks to a Tom Gilmore penalty early in the second half but the hosts responded once again as Joe Arundel took a short pass to crash over Max Roberts crossed out wide with 15 minutes to go to re-establish the Vikings’ eight-point cushion but it wasn’t enough as a barrage of pressure from the Bulldogs saw them cross for three tries late on to snatch the points The first try came from Elliot Kear as he took a looping pass to score out wide before a brace from Brad Martin sealed a 28-20 victory for the hosts We turn our attention to a massive derby clash with Warrington Wolves at the DCBL Stadium in the Challenge Cup this Saturday. Tickets are available HERE The club can confirm that Sunday’s Championship Round Three clash with Batley Bulldogs will now kick off at 2pm the match has been brought forward an hour due to floodlight issues at the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium Tickets are available HERE The Eagles are back in Betfred Championship action this coming Friday evening when we welcome Batley Bulldogs to the Steel City Stadium (7:30pm KO) Craig Lingard’s former side will head to South Yorkshire looking to get back to winning ways following defeat on Good Friday at home to Hunslet but the Eagles will also be looking to do the same after we were defeated by Doncaster in a South Yorkshire derby last time out Read below for all the key information you need to know ahead of Friday’s fixture Match Tickets for Friday’s game remain on sale, and you’re able to secure your spot for this game now by clicking HERE.  Ticket prices for the game are as follows:  * Please note that all ticket prices  * We strongly ask all supporters to purchase their tickets in advance of the game by buying online though our online ticketing portal.  Supporters are encouraged to arrive early to facilitate a smooth entry into the stadium and avoid any delays We’re pleased to announce we have on-site parking for gamedays at Olympic Legacy Park for the 2025 season Worksop Road car park is available to use for supporters on a first-come Car park spaces cost £5 and will be available to buy with CARD ONLY there is some street parking available around Olympic Legacy Park Please be mindful of the residents when parking your vehicle Our food and drink concessions will open from 5:45pm at the Steel City Stadium A range of hot food options will be available These items can be bought on their own or served with peas and gravy for an additional £1.50 Crisps and chocolate bars will be available at £2 each Drinks on offer include alcoholic options such as John Smiths (£5) and Cider and Lager (£5.75) Our concessions are located inside the stadium concourse to your left after you have entered through the turnstiles Please note that our concessions only take card payments We will have a little pop-up shop inside the stadium on Friday evening where we will be selling the latest batch of 2025 Player Cards and pin badges we will not be producing a match programme a printed copy of the squads will be available These will be limited in quantity but can be obtained free of charge from our gameday volunteers inside Olympic Legacy Park If your unable to make it to the Steel City Stadium then here is a list of ways to keep updated with what’s going on - Live Match Updates on X (formerly Twitter) Watch all the highlights as 2023 winners Leigh Leopards entertained Batley Bulldogs in the Fourth Round of the 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup But who would make it through in to the next round Follow the Betfred Challenge Cup on social media for all the latest news and updates - we are on Facebook, Instagram and X Saturday 7 June is Betfred Challenge Cup Finals Day 2025 – also including the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final, AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final, and RFL Champion Schools Year 7 Boys Final. Tickets are on sale now ...and a round-up of the Quarter-Finals action.. Enquires: enquiries@rfl.co.uk  |  0330 111 1113 (Mon-Fri 10-4pm)Ticketing: ticketing@RLcommercial.co.uk  |  0844 856 1113 (Calls will cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge) GameDay Support: gamedaysupport@rfl.co.uk 168 8110 49Copyright © 2023 - Rugby Football League - All rights reserved Craig Lingard has named his 21-man squad for this Friday’s Betfred Championship clash against Batley Bulldogs at the Steel City Stadium (7:30pm KO) Evan Hodgson and Alex Foster both come back into contention for Friday’s fixture and the duo come in to replace Lewis Peachey and Harvey Horne Corporate Sponsor: In Memory of Ely Fearnley Personal Sponsor: George & Brenda Betts Personal Sponsor: Elias & Ida (Sheffield Forgers) Corporate Sponsor: Brook Corporate Developments Corporate Sponsor: Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber Corporate Sponsor: Available for Sponsorship Personal Sponsor: Available for Sponsorship Personal Sponsor: Chris & Georgie Holliday Corporate Sponsorship: Active Chiropractic Clinic Personal Sponsorship: Available for Sponsorship Corporate Sponsorship: Available for Sponsorship Wakefield Trinity and Batley Bulldogs can confirm the two clubs will be entering into a Dual-Registration agreement for the 2025 season After battling it out on the field in 2024 the two sides now form an alliance as they head into next season The deal will see players who are not selected in Daryl Powell’s Trinity side able to gain experience and game time in the Betfred Championship with Batley Ste Mills said: “When the opportunity came up to Dual Reg with Batley Bulldogs we jumped at the chance as we have a great relationship with the Batley’s Head Coach Mark Moxon I am a big believer that we will benefit out of this agreement as well as Batley Our players will gain valuable playing time & experience and this is another pathway for our younger players to become Super League players I want to thank Kevin & Paul from Batley for making this a smooth experience.” Batley Bulldogs Chairman said: “Matt has done a great job with all his team to get Wakefield back into Super League at the first attempt I was lucky enough to attend the Championship Grand Final which was an absolutely superb event which showed off the Championship at its very best During the season we have spoken and had meetings about DR and Mark Moxon has spoken in detail in particular with Steve Mills and whilst in the past we have not been totally convinced about DR from our conversations and the enthusiasm of the Club generally we have been extremely impressed to say the least such that we are now very much convinced that this DR could really work for both Clubs and we are delighted to be associated with what is now a totally invigorated Trinity This future relationship prospect has given our Club a big boost in the present challenging climate” Batley Head Coach said: “We’re delighted to be dual registered with what is my hometown and boyhood club Wakefield seem to be doing everything right at the moment with the whole club doing exceptionally well last year and earning their place back in SL They have put together a very strong squad for 2025 and we look forward to working closely with them If we can give some of their players valuable game time for development or fitness and in the process gain some SL quality full time players then both cl ubs will benefit from the arrangement.” Joe Batley, Gabriel Oghre and Gabriel Ibitoye have been named in a 24-player England Men A wider squad for the visit of Australia A to the Twickenham Stoop on Sunday 17th November (14:00 GMT kick-off), with tickets available here The squad includes seven previously capped senior men’s internationals: Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers) Curtis Langdon and Tom Pearson (all Northampton Saints); Ted Hill (Bath Rugby) Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks) and Tom Willis (Saracens) Northampton Saints centre Fraser Dingwall has been selected as the side’s captain for the second England A fixture since the team’s return from an eight-year hiatus Dingwall has won two caps for the senior men’s side under senior men’s head coach Steve Borthwick and lifted the Gallagher Premiership title in June with his club Recent World Rugby U20 Championship victors Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester Rugby) Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints) and Vilikesa Sela (Bath Rugby) as well as 2024 U20 Six Nations winner Archie McParland (Northampton Saints) 23 of the selected 24 players have been previously capped at age-grade level in the England Rugby Men’s Pathway The selection of the wider squad and matchday 23 is a cooperative approach made in consultation with head coach Mark Mapletoft and determined by senior men’s head coach and RFU Executive Director of Performance Rugby The former Men A and senior men’s international Mapletoft takes the reins of the A programme for November alongside U20 Men assistant coach Andy Titterrell and scrum coach Nathan Catt after they led the U20 Men to a ‘double’ Six Nations and World Rugby U20 Championship victory in 2024 Lee Blackett of Bath Rugby and Exeter Chiefs’ Haydn Thomas join the coaching ticket as attack and defence coaches with Thomas also involved in the England U20 Men’s recent silverware as defensive coordinator The squad will assemble at the Hazelwood Centre next Tuesday (12th) to begin preparations for the fixture later that week where they will be joined by selected players presently training with the senior squad The coaching staff will be supported by the key pathway and Red Roses Strength & Conditioning Medical and Operational staff for the game The Rugby Football Union (RFU) can also confirm that Premier Sports 1 will broadcast the fixture with coverage commencing at 13:45 GMT on Sunday 17th November Mark Mapletoft said: “The coaching staff and I are incredibly excited to reveal this squad after extensive collaborative work and are looking forward to working with some familiar and new faces alike “Next week presents a platform for a selection of some of the best Premiership talent to express themselves further whilst representing their country some of those being U20 players me and the pathway staff have worked with very recently It bridges from the pathway and into senior contention through vital gametime in an England jersey “An England A matchweek is a short turnaround; the key for us is to instill a chemistry through extensive preparation knowledge sharing and a diligent team culture ahead of a very competitive opportunity in front of an energetic home support.” Tickets start from only £25 for adults & £15 for kids (U16)* for England Men A’s meeting against Australia A. Click here to secure your place at the Twickenham Stoop England Men A wider squad to face Australia A (includes club and senior caps) England Men A coaching staff for Australia A fixture Sunday 17th November 2024 – England A vs. Australia A – Twickenham Stoop, 14:00 GMT kick-off (Live on Premier Sports 1, tickets available here) Sunday 23rd February 2025 – England A vs. Ireland A – Ashton Gate, 13:00 GMT kick-off (Tickets available here) Ashton Gate StadiumAshton RoadBristolBS3 2EJ To continue please log in with your personal details Logging in will give you access to ticketing If you have not yet set up a Bristol Bears account just click Create Account below Allan Coleman has named his 21-man squad for the Vikings Championship clash with Batley Bulldogs at the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium The match takes place this Sunday and is scheduled to kick off at 2pm The Vikings are boosted by the return of two key players to the 21-man squad as Captain Jack Owens has recovered from a hip injury he suffered against North Wales Crusaders at the start of February 2024 top try-scorer Ryan Ince is also named in the squad for the first time this season after overcoming a hand injury Max Wood continues on dual registration from Warrington Wolves Noah Hodkinson has also returned to Wigan Warriors following the expiry of his loan Get your tickets for Sunday’s game HERE 3  MATT FLEMING (LENA HOUGH IN MEMORY OF LEN BEESLEY) 8  DAN MURRAY (KJ PLUMBING & HEATING CHESHIRE LTD) 12  DANNY LANGTREE (HALTON & ST HELENS VCA) 15  LIAM BENT (HAROLD PRESCOTT & SONS LTD) 21  GAVIN BENNION (VIKINGS AWAY TRAVEL @ THE VILLAGE CLUB WIDNES) On a crisp Wednesday morning groups of women gather in a bright cafe surrounded by white wisteria hanging down the walls as they catch up over a halal breakfast of shakshuka and Spanish lattes Some are here solely for the pistachio kunafa French toast, inspired by the viral Dubai chocolate. You’d think Elite Cafe & Patisserie which caters primarily to Muslim diners with its menu blending Middle Eastern would be found on Manchester’s Curry Mile or Leeds Road in Bradford But the cafe is one of many eateries in Batley drawing in Muslim diners from across the region turning this market town into a halal food destination “We have had Muslims come to us from as far as Newcastle and Liverpool They all said they’re lacking halal food places in their area,” Elite’s co-founder Rahima Hajat says.  In recent years, halal food blogger Aamir Khan has found himself travelling the eight miles from Bradford to get his fix of halal Italian food at Salt & Crust and Afghan cuisine at Kabuliwala.  “I love this place because it’s real,” he says Every new spot that pops up just proves how much this town loves good food But the opening of a number of halal cafes and restaurants over the past few years has brought hope of regeneration “These new food places are 100% going to regenerate Batley,” says Hajat “We’ve already seen it in the last two years I think it’s encouraged people to go out in Batley.” Hollywood Legends Bar, which closed in 2020, was given a new lease of life when Bradford property developer and businessman Mohammed Zahoor purchased the run-down bar and reopened it as Legends Café in 2023 has retained much of the timelessness of the old Art Deco property but is offering something that Muslim diners don’t come across often — halal traditional English food.  The menu “is a fusion between English and desi” but 90% of the time it’s English breakfast and chicken pot pies which the Muslim community normally couldn’t have because they’re predominantly done by English places which don’t cater for halal Legends Café is a favourite with Leeds-based community worker Zainab Aziz who says Batley is worth the travel for the halal food options.  “Most food places in Batley are family-friendly and hijab-friendly, they’re certified HMC The owners are creative and welcoming and the prices are reasonable,” she says they don’t serve alcohol and the meat is sourced locally Elite Cafe & Patisserie sits just up the road from Legends who moved to Batley from Leicester and London 20 years ago The friends had always enjoyed going for brunch together but found there were no halal brunch spots in the town and would often have to drive to Leeds or Manchester instead.  the demand for a table at their cafe is so high that they no longer take bookings They  also aim to contribute to Batley’s economy by employing local Muslim women.  “One of our main aims was creating jobs for young women who have just left school and older women whose children are grown up and women who are passionate about cooking,” Hajat says.  Both Zahoor and Hajat say the popularity of their business is reflective of a new generation of Muslims who prefer going out to eat to cooking at home which small towns like Batley are happily catering to.  “The dynamics of how people dine out have changed over the years,” says Zahoor “In my generation we didn’t go out to eat much Travelling to eat is part of the culture now Hyphen is the leading media platform on Muslim life in the UK and Europe Sign up to our newsletter to receive our top stories straight to your inbox every week This form may not be visible due to adblockers © 2025 Hyphen® / Link Media Corporation Ltd Batley Bulldogs have hit out at Dane Manning’s eight-match suspension for punching: and have asked rugby league fans if they think similar incidents put spectators off the game Manning was handed a hefty ban after a number of flashpoints during a recent Championship derby against Bradford Bulls Manning and Bulls fullback Tom Holmes were both given straight red cards as a result But Manning was then heavily punished at a Rugby Football League tribunal earlier this week and ruled out of the club’s next eight matches But Batley have hit back saying they will fully support Manning and that they are ‘disappointed’ with the length of the ban “We’re clearly disappointed at the extreme length of Dane Manning’s ban and will support Dane through the period,” they said A post shared by BatleyBulldogsRLFC (@batleybulldogsofficial) The Bulldogs then went on to ask supporters if they felt incidents like the one involving Manning were putting people off rugby league even going as far as conducting a poll on the matter They wrote: “We believe in an ideal world punching should not be part of Rugby League but occasionally in such a physical contact sport these incidents can happen and do need to be punished “BUT do you believe such incidents actually deter people from watching our great sport?” The Bulldogs head across the Pennines this weekend to take on Super League heavyweights Leigh Leopards without the suspended Manning 👉🏻 Which Super League clubs voted against Nigel Wood’s RFL return? 👉🏻 Ranking the Championship sides’ chances of Challenge Cup upset in last 16 👉🏻 Challenge Cup predictions: Barrie McDermott tips huge Championship upset 👉🏻 Leeds Rhinos star set for major change in Challenge Cup as dilemma explained © Planet Sport Limited 2025 • All Rights Reserved 'He is still abandoned!' Batley Grammar teacher 'still living in fear' 4 years on A friend of the Batley Grammar School teacher who was forced into hiding in 2021 after showing a caricature of Prophet Muhammad has claimed that the man "continues to live in fear." who communicates with the teacher directly and through an intermediary described the situation as "absolutely horrendous" The teacher has remained in hiding since the 2021 incident that sparked protests outside the school The incident occurred in March 2021 when the religious studies teacher displayed the cartoon during a lesson shortly after schools had returned to classrooms following Covid-enforced home learning Crowds of protesters gathered outside the school grounds following the lesson on 22 March 2021 depictions of the Prophet Muhammad are considered deeply offensive by many Muslims Crowds of protesters gathered outside the school grounds following the lesson on March 22 Halloran said: "The head teacher at the school just simply threw him under the bus "I don't think there was any duty of care towards him It was basically get out of the building and you do what you need to do he felt the need to get away because there were credible threats What would anybody do in the same state of mind You gather your family and you'd get out of there." we speak to the teacher via an intermediary and sometimes directly to him he's gone through an absolutely horrendous situation abandoned as if said by all the people that should have cared for him on the altar of political correctness." He added: "That's what's still driving this situation because he's still abandoned Nobody's willing to share the GoFundMe How can the political classes or the people like Tracy Brabin To share a GoFundMe that helps a person and his family in need The National Education Union has rejected Halloran's claims as "false" A spokesman told GB News: "The Khan Review recognises the work and support given by the NEU." They added the review "states they were impressed by the leadership support and care demonstrated by the NEU to the teacher" Tracy Brabin's spokesman defended her actions Tracy worked hard behind the scenes to calm community tensions." They described the threats towards the teacher as "deplorable and completely unacceptable" and Iqbal Mohammed had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: London Broncos vs Batley Bulldogs Mike Eccles has named his squad for the Championship fixture with Batley Bulldogs at The Cherry Red Records Stadium on Saturday (7pm) There are three omissions to the squad as the Wigan pair of Taylor Kerr and Lukas Mason and Sam Davis who is on dual-registration from Salford are not included From the last league game at The Cherry Red Records we have Lewis Bienek and Sadiq Adebiyi returning