DEWSBURY Rams turned in another unconvincing performance as they edged to victory against a vastly improved Hunslet Hawks in their final group game of the Northern Rail Cup last Sunday.
The Hawks should have earned at least a draw from the game, having played some enterprising rugby, but Matt Bramald pulled a penalty wide with the last kick of the game and the Rams hung on for victory.
The Rams had already qualified for the knock out stages of the competition and perhaps a lack of motivation played a part but Dewsbury will certainly need to improve if they are to get anything out of their opening two National League Division One games over the bank holiday weekend.
Fans' favourite Richard Chapman made a welcome return to the side as substitute and he impressed in two spells, scoring a vital try in first half injury time.
Liam Finn worked hard at hooker and there was another good show by Pat Walker, who moved to stand-off.
Walker was solid in defence and linked well with scrum- half Dean Lawford, while he produced another fine kicking display, capped by a towering match winning penalty from 40 yards 10 minutes from full-time.
Hunslet were given a huge confidence boost when they opened the scoring inside a minute as former Rams prop Keegan Hirst produced a defence-bursting drive and offloaded to Bramald, who in turn sent scrum-half Kevin Till scooting over for a well worked try which Bramald converted.
Hunslet came again and a lovely runaround by Till opened the Rams defence, Bramald again came into the attacking line but his long pass out wide was fumbled by winger Luke Rayner.
Dewsbury got their act together and a neat chip over the top by Lawford was gathered by Mark Field, who set up an attack.
Hunslet conceded two consecutive penalties, putting them under pressure, and the home side moved quickly right for Alex Bretherton to race through and score wide out. Walker added an excellent goal.
Indiscipline let the Rams down at times and two quick penalties saw Hunslet turn defence into attack. They stretched Dewsbury on the left and Stuart Young raced through a gap and behind the posts to give Bramald a simple conversion.
A Bramald high kick was not dealt with and the Rams were penalised for taking an attacker out off the ball and Bramald slotted over another goal.
Three minutes into first half injury time, Chapman gathered the ball on the right, held off three defenders and managed to plant it down in the corner for a vital try, which Walker improved.
Just two minutes into the second half, Dewsbury hit the front for the first time when centre Chris Langley showed great strength to barge over wide on the right.
Bretherton and Lawford were both held close to the line in another Rams raid before Lawford's grubber kick was pounced on over the try line by Andrew Bostock, only to be judged to have knocked on.
The expected Rams onslaught in the final quarter never materialised and it was Hunslet who looked livelier as Bramald levelled matters with a 58th minute penalty.
Dewsbury bombed the chance of a try when Tere Glassie dropped a pass close to the line and when Hunslet were penalised 40 yards out, Walker held his nerve to land a tremendous goal under pressure.
There was late drama as Dewsbury were penalised for interference at a play-the-ball as Hunslet threatened their line.
Bramald, who had kicked well all afternoon, looked to earn his side a share of the spoils but scuffed his goal attempt well wide and Dewsbury were relieved to hear the final hooter.
Dewsbury Rams: Field; Epati, Langley, Bostock, Buchanan; Walker, Lawford; Trinder, Finn, Maloney, Glassie, M Robinson, Bretherton. Subs (all used): Chapman, Crawley, Helme, Wilson.
Hunslet Hawks: Bramald; Rayner, Mack, A Robinson, Dunbar; Young, Till; Hirst, Moxon, Freeman, Walkin, Lester, Gunney. Subs (all used): Blake, P Robinson, Pennington, Watling.
Referee: Dave Merrick (Pontefract). Att: 740.