Dewsbury Rams secure friendly success over Halifax

By Andrew Hunt

DEWSBURY Rams produced a vastly improved display to defeat highly fancied Halifax in their second pre-season friendly.

The contrast between Dewsbury’s clash at Batley on Boxing Day was evident as they overwhelmed a Fax side who are tipped to be among the title challengers in 2013.

Dewsbury took the lead after 22 minutes when Ryan Hepworth gathered a short pass to crash over for an unconverted try.

Two minutes later substitute Jy-Mel Coleman dived over from acting half-back and Scott Spaven slotted over the conversion to put the Rams 10-0 ahead.

Halifax hit back after half-an-hour when Steve Tyrer forced his way over in the left corner but as the visitors attempted to mount another attack, Elliot Cosgrove capitalised on a dropped pass and hacked the ball downfield.

Cosgrove dribbled the bouncing ball towards the line and gathered to score, Spaven converted to put the Rams 16-4 ahead at half-time.

Dewsbury extended their lead just four minutes after the re-start when Matty Tebb darted over from acting half-back for his second try in as many matches. Spaven converted and Dewsbury were well on top.

Things got worse for the visitors when Ben Heaton was sin-binned for preventing Dewsbury taking a quick 25 tap and while Fax were down to 12 men the impressive Spaven slotted over a 35 metre drop goal to stretch the lead to 23-4.

Halifax scored a consolation try from the final play when Heaton sold a dummy and darted over and Tyrer landed the goal with the last kick of the game.

Full match report and pictures in Friday’s Reporter.