James Ford gives tactical insight into what is - and isn’t - going well for Batley Bulldogs in 2026 ahead of Newcastle Thunder re-match
Batley Bulldogs’ head coach James Ford has provided a tactical insight into what has been going well for his side in 2026 - as well as certain areas to improve ahead of a re-match with Newcastle Thunder this weekend.
The Bulldogs were beaten by Newcastle 34-20 in the 1895 Cup two weekends ago but head back to the north-east for a Championship encounter this Saturday, May 2 (kick off 4pm), on the back of a thumping 46-10 home league win over Goole Vikings.
And while Batley will now look to record back-to-back wins for just the second time this season, Ford believes there is positive consistency in areas of his side’s game.
He told the Reporter Series: “I was pleased to pick up another win. We built on some of the things that we have been doing well fairly consistently through the season and we were better defensively than we were in our previous two games.
“I still want to challenge the team to be better. I have shown them some stuff of their progress but also things where they can continue to get better.
“Some things in our games we have done consistently well all season; some things we haven’t done as well. We, as coaches and players, will be focussing on things that lead to the outcomes and results, and we will be going after a few smaller things in our game and building on them.
“That in turn, and being consistent in our prep and sessions, will lead to us being a more consistent team.”
And while the spine of the team has been causing problems, end product and defensive work has been identified as areas for progress.
He said: “Our spine combines well pretty much every game and creates stressful moments for opponents’ defence. They can create four vs three, three vs two and two vs one, that’s been a real key feature of our games, as well as our willingness to move the ball.
“Something that has been a key focus for improvement is finding the right pass in those situations or executing the right skill and getting our depth and timing right in those situations.
“When we do finally click across the board in all those aspects we will be a really, really strong attacking team.
“On the other side of the ball, we are just a mixed bag across the field. We have got some blokes who are defending really well and we have got some who aren’t.
“It is an array of things. Some of it is contact, some of it is a lack of urgency. We are doing it well in patches, we just need to do it well for the duration of the game.
“We need to defend like we need to win a game 2-0, and then attack as we have been attacking.”
On Newcastle’s threats, Ford said: “They have got really big powerful ball carriers who will just try and come through you, and once they generate some ruck speed and leave people on the floor, they have got some really skilful players in the halves like Nikau Williams, and class edge players like Joe Law.
“Ultimately, it all comes from the leg speed and physicality of the middles. We know what is coming.
“The boys know what I thought of what they dished up defensively against them last time. We need to be much better and I am looking forward to us being much better.”
Ronan Dixon is a major doubt for the game (back spasm) while Felix Ellis is still not fit to return to action.