BATLEY boss Karl Harrison refused to criticise the decision to send off Dane Manning despite the dismissal proving to be the turning point as the Bulldogs let slip an 18-10 second half lead to lose 28-18 at home to the Giants in the fourth round of the Challenge Cup.
Manning was dismissed for a high tackle on Larne Patrick at a time when the home side led by eight points with 20 minutes to go, and the Giants made full use of the extra man to run out winners and book a place in the fifth round.
Harrison said: “I can’t argue with the decision.
“It wasn’t a malicious tackle, but I accept that it was high.”
However, Harrison was more than proud of his side’s efforts.
“It was a great performance,” he said.
“We thought we nearly had it. The lads are devastated in the dressing room because they played a Super League side and had been the better team for most of the game.
“But it’s all part of the learning curve. We were perhaps a little naive about killing the game off.
“We worked in training on a few things that we thought would cause Huddersfield problems, and for periods they couldn’t cope with us.
“I’d like to think our performance was a good advert for Championship-level rugby.”
