06 September 2015

Dewsbury Rams out-muscled a depleted Rovers’ pack to enable their halves to dominate a challenging game which moves them within one point of their hosts at the top of the Championship Shield. Rams looked dangerous from the off, but were unable to capitalise on two outstanding breaks from Matty Wildie, who was outstanding throughout, but it took them twenty minutes to open the scoring through a 75 metre individual effort from Joel Farrell. Wildie then had a touchdown ruled out after Brett Seymour sent Farrell clear again to send Etu Uaisele racing down the touchline, but the final inside pass was ruled forward. Rams didn’t have to wait long, however, and the next time they entered Rover’s half Anthony Thackeray’s high kick was spilled under pressure by Sharp for Jason Crookes to pick up and go over unopposed. Uaisele then atoned for his earlier error by scoring off Wildie’s pass after Ryan Fieldhouse and Seymour combined to make the space. Rovers started to show some fight, and after Matt James was halted short off a barnstorming run, Will Milner dummied and forced his way under the crossbar for Paul Sykes to convert and reduce the margin to ten. Three minutes later they were back in the fight when Hardman and Thomas Minns combined to put Sharp clear down the touchline.

The first score of the second period was all important, and after 10 minutes of arm wrestling it finally went to the Rams. The ball was turned over from Gareth Moore’s promising break to half-way giving Dewsbury chance to pressure the Featherstone line and Farrell raced onto Thackeray’s astute pass to race over from 15 metres. Not long after hooker Nathan Conroy broke from dummy half deep in his own territory and found Wildie the usual suspect up in support to race home unopposed. Rovers hit back immediately when Milner put Jack Ormondroyd through from 20 metres, and were almost back in the fight two minutes later when Matt James was ruled to have lost the ball as he reached for the line, although he was adamant after the game that he put the ball on the line. Then Paul Sykes was held up over the line after he stepped inside with his wing man Johnson unmarked. That was Rovers’ last chance with two scores separating the sides and time running out, before Thackeray put the final nail in the coffin as he released Farrell from deep and followed up to finish off the move.