Kear’s Bulldogs excited by Catalans challenge

Batley Bulldogs coach John Kear is relishing the chance to take on Super League opposition on Friday evening, as his team welcomes Catalans Dragons to West Yorkshire in the Challenge Cup.

The Bulldogs lost 37-30 against Leigh last week, but Kear felt that his team turned in a positive performance.

“I was really pleased because it had been a tough week getting a representative team on the field of play,” he said.

“We manged to do it and they did themselves proud. I felt we were pretty unlucky not to get something from the game.

“I think it’s [Catalans game] exciting, but there’s also an element of trepidation as well because they’ve been in tremendous form.

“You look through the team and they’ve got a raft of stellar players. We’ve got to be aware of what they can do, but not be overawed by the fact that they’re such quality.

“There’s a fine balance in how we’re going to have to prepare the players for the challenge this week.”

Catalans Dragons lost 28-26 at Hull FC, and coach Laurent Frayssinous wants to iron out the furstrations of that defeat against Batley.

“In our last performance against Hull FC it was frustrating the way we lost,” he said.

“In Super League you look at improving week-in-week-out, but now it’s a do-or-die game, you just need to win by one point.

“We are playing a very good team. I watched Batley’s performance against Leigh last weekend and I watched their performance against Featherstone in the Challenge Cup.

“They’ve got a quality team with a big pack of forwards and a smart half in Brambani so it will be a tough battle for us but we want to concentrate on ourselves more than the opposition.”