Rams suffer heavy defeat

Dewsbury had completed their pre-season programme with only 17 fit players and called upon Wakefield quartet Max Jowitt, Mason Caton-Brown, David Fifita and Keegan Hirst on dual-registration.

However, a disappointing defensive display saw Rochdale run in eight unanswered tries as everything the Hornets attempted appeared to come off.

Dewsbury were put under pressure from the start but managed to keep a lively Rochdale side at bay for the opening 15 minutes.

Eventually the home side’s pressure told and having taken play close to the Rams line, Gary Middlehurst produced a neat short pass for prop Samir Tahraoui to storm onto and force his way over.

Stand off Lewis Palfrey added the first of seven goals and the Hornets were up and running.

Hooker Ben Moores forced his way over from acting half-back and directly from the re-start Palfrey broke and found scrum-half Danny Yates in support.

Moores finished off the length of the field move and with Palfrey tagging on both goals, the Rams trailed 18-0 after just 22 minutes.

Rochdale added a fourth try when the impressive Middlehurst sent Matty Hadden charging through a huge gap in the defence. He found Yates, who finished off the move with an unconverted try.

Dewsbury needed a good start to the second half if they were to have any hope of mounting a fightback but it was Rochdale who grabbed a 49th minute try to effectively put the game out of reach.

Yates produced a lovely pass for Jo Taira to score from close range.

Palfrey added the conversion and tagged on two further penalties in quick succession to extend Rochdale’s lead to 32-0.

Dewsbury were threatening a consolation try when a pass was intercepted and Rochdale turned defence into attack with Chris Riley’s breakaway.

Although he was held, Lewis Galbraith sent Rob Massam diving in at the corner on the next play.

There was no respite for Dewsbury as Galbraith gathered a Moores pass to score and the Rams misery was complete when Ryan Maneely scored the final try seven minutes from time, which Palfrey improved

Rochdale Hornets: Riley; Greenwood, Eccleston, Galbraith, Massam; Palfrey, Yates; Tahraoui, Moores, Bannion, Bridge, Crowley, Middlehurst. Subs: Maneely, Taira, Hadden, Case.

Dewsbury Rams: Jowitt; Potts, Barnes, Crookes, Caton-Brown; Sykes, Kain; Fifita, Speakman, Stringer, Spicer, Walshaw, Brown. Subs: Hirst, Ward, Adamson, Sheriffe.

Referee: Ben Thaler. Attendance: 718.