Batley appeared to have it wrapped up when they led 28-10 just after the hour but they became casual and conceded three tries to finish close to embarrassment. The fact each side scored five tries says it all and at no level can the Bulldogs ease off.
Coach Gary Thornton spoke afterwards of the need to develop a ruthless streak and he was spot on as the side learned another lesson.
There was strong work at times from Martin McLoughlin, whose ability to split the defence and get then ball away were great assets. Luke Stenchion again tackled well and there were some good touches from subs Ash Lindsay – at loose forward – and Kris Lythe but only occasionally did Batley show the fluency that marked their tremendous second half effort against Doncaster.
They took the lead with a quality score, the sort they are capable of, when McLoughlin's well-timed run took him through. Gary Smith supported and timed his pass nicely for Craig Lingard to step clear and run 40 yards to complete a 65-yard sweep. Steve Jones added the goal.
Hunslet soon showed their ability and Andy Jarrett did well to stop the dangerous Ian Brown before a penalty gave Hunslet a chance and good hands opened the way for Brown to beat Chris Langley and cross. Craig Robinson failed at goal.
Batley stretched their lead when Neil Roden judged a kick nicely to the line. Adrian Flynn and Michael Wainwright competed for the ball and the latter stabbed the ball forward for the supporting John Gallagher to score with ease, leaving Flynn complaining he had been impeded. Jones's kick went wide.
Batley went through a careless spell, particularly near the line when chances went begging. Iain Marsh was put on report after a brief flare-up. Just before half-time Hunslet had Anthony Gibbons sin-binned for interference at play-the-ball after Jones had been held just short.
Almost on the break McLoughlin again created space down the middle, Roden linked and sent Mark Sibson racing to the posts. The goal by Jones made it 16-4 at the break.
Early in the second half Andy Shickell barged over for Gareth Naylor to add the goal and Hunslet were back in it.
Lindsay had to make a try-saving tackle on Robinson in front of the posts before a kick by Roden gave Batley a scrum on the visiting '25 and Lindsay picked up from the heel and made good ground. A quick play-the-ball saw Roden and Lingard handle neatly to send Sibson over unopposed, Jones added a tremendous goal from the touchline.
A kick across field by Robinson left Wainwright facing three Hunslet attackers and he did well to knock the ball from their reach. Roden, Gallagher and Lindsay came away well but the final pass was forward.
Hunslet were given offside from Roden's grubber kick and from the penalty the Batley stand-off dummied into space and sent Lythe over for Jones to add the goal.
That should have been the time for Batley to cut loose but they became sloppy, as did the game with a series of clumsy tackles by both sides. Chris Redfearn had a try-scoring pass knocked down and Marc Shickell lost the ball as he plunged between the posts.
When Hunslet did score again it was from near their own line as George Rayner sliced through on a terrific run and raced 60 yards before sending Brown over.
Batley did not heed the warning and when a penalty took Hunslet close, Mark Cass worked his way over to score as he did so often for Batley.
Still Hunslet weren't finished and two minutes from time Wayne Freeman's pass saw Gareth Naylor force his way over. Fortunately for Batley each of the last three tries was scored wide out and Naylor, who is not Hunslet's regular kicker, missed all three attempts.
It was a win but the Bulldogs have to realise they can't admire their handiwork until the game is over.
Batley Bulldogs: Lingard; Wainwright, Langley, Jones, Sibson; Roden, Gallagher; Jarrett, Boothroyd, Stenchion, McLoughlin, Smith, Marsh. Subs: Lythe, Bissell, Lindsay, Cooke.
Hunslet Hawks: Rayner; Watson, A Gibbons, Brown, Flynn; Robinson, Moxon; A Shickell, Cass, Cook, Freeman, Cartledge, Redfearn. Subs: Naylor, Staveley, Hamilton, M Shickell.
Referee: A Grundy (Ossett).
Attendance: 546.