Every season there's one. An upset that not only defies the league table, but the imagination too. And for a significant proportion of this game Batley threatened to be this season's National League banana skin. Fortunately, Hornets had enough in the tank to avoid falling flat on our backsides - but skid and slide we did.

At four minutes past three, though, all the signs were that this would be another typical day at the office. Ian Watson's early 40/20, Bowker took the ball close and Dave Larder crashed in. Mick Nanyn hoofed his first of five misses into the Sandy Lane end.

This prodded Batley to life. Two tries in three minutes - both from neat chips over the defence into space - by Bramald and Eaton respectively gave Batley the lead. Needless to say, kicking robot Barry Eaton was more resolute with the boot, potting six from six on the day.

But Hornets responded well to what looked like a hiccup. On 20 minutes Dave Larder turned provider, finding Jon Roper who took the no-nonsense approach to steam in and score from 20 metres. Four minutes later, it was an immaculate short, flat pass at close quarters that squeezed Paul Smith in for his try.

And Hornets were pressing again on 36 minutes when a wild floaty pass from acting half by Matt Leigh landed in Batley Stand-off Thomas' hands. He ran 90 metres to score. Bugger.

Hornets re-established camp in the Batley 20m zone and, with the clock ticking down, a sweeping pass from Richard Pachniuk shoe-horned wayne McHugh in at the corner. With both referee and touch judge stood within ten feet, Mr King went and asked the other touch judge 70 yards away if it was ok. Oddball.

So, with Hornets trailing 20-18 at half time, it was time for Martin Hall to offer 'a few words of encouragement'. Suitably blasted, Hornets came out looking a bit more like it.

Inside two minutes Matt Leigh was planting the ball down from a short pass from Watson. Inside ten, a cut-out from Watson was all the invitation Nanyn needed to score wide out. And just four minutes later Radney Bowker rampaged up the left flank to be tackled just short; Richard Pachniuk took advantage of an over-eager Batley defence to stroll through a huge hole from three yards. 32-20 and the Hornets supporters exhaled as one.

But Batley weren't quite done. Just past the hour Eaton scuffed through a low kick for Harrison to dive in and score. Hornets fans started tapping their watches.

The introduction of Matt Calland did lift matters. His direct, aggressive style and keenness to offload pushed Batley onto the back foot and lifted spirits for what could have been a torrid last quarter. But Batley's bolt was shot.

Another break from Bowker took Hornets into a good position and Dave Larder repeated Pach's trick of scooting in from acting half to seal matters.

Typically on a day when Hornets seldom sparked, they allowed Batley to have the final word. With Ray Myers' finger on the hooter button, Thomas made another dashing break and Gibbons backed up well to score. Eaton made it six from six; Hornets had made hard work of it; we all shrugged and shook our heads. One of those days.

The general impression after the game was that no-one was very happy with the performance. If you'd added the ten possible points from Nanyn's misses, it still wouldn't have been a fair reflection of the scare that Batley had given us. Fair play to them, they came to play and did so with some style. Their varied kicking game had Hornets worried for most of the afternoon - but it's testimony to Hally's side that they can play so badly against such committed opposition and still win.

On this performance alone, it'd be a travesty if Batley went down - they were by far the best side we've seen at Spotland for weeks.

Hally was typically taciturn after the game. "The main objective was to get two points - and we did." Equally, he recognised that Hornets had a stinker: "... We've a lot to do to make sure we get it right at the right end of the season," he said.

And with Salford showing no signs of letting up their juggernaut advance, one imagines that the tackle bags are in for a hard week.