Dewsbury Rams continue unbeaten start to 2026 thanks to late Jacob Hookem penalty against Keighley Cougars

The majority of the point-scoring came in the first half with Tom Delaney, Brad Graham and Vanu Tane Bentley crossing over to help the Rams into a 20-18 half-time lead before Hookem’s late heroics with the boot after the score was locked at 20-20.

Both sides came into the contest without tasting defeat in 2026, with Keighley defeating Goole Vikings in their Championship opener while the Rams had beaten Hunslet at the South Leeds Stadium.

With only two minutes on the clock in this Round 2 West Yorkshire derby, Jack McShane came off for hurting his forearm in the tackle and was replaced by Jacob Parkinson. And, seconds later, the Rams opened the scoring through Delaney after George Senior had found the winger. Hookem was hand to make the simple conversion.

Moments later, Dewsbury doubled their advantage through Graham. Luke Nelmes delivered a leading pass to Graham, with Jack Teanby’s attempted tackle being in vain as Graham went over. Hookem converted without mistake again.

With the home side seemingly in control, Keighley were awarded a penalty close to the line with Senior knocking on, although former Rams player Matty Beharrell knocked on only 10 metres away from the try line.

The visitors did manage to reduce the home side's advantage when Izaac Farrell found Dylan Proud with a simple pass before powering himself over the line before Beharrell converted.

The hosts were awarded a relieving penalty with Keighley not releasing in the tackle, although tempers flared between the two sides once again and the Rams took the choice of kicking at goal. Hookem added another two points to extend the home side's advantage.

Keighley reduced the deficit to two points as Bradley Holroyd scored a simple try in the corner from a Connor Sayner overhead pass with Beharrell converting again.

A Keighley goal-line drop-out saw Jacob Parkinson into the sin bin for a late tackle on Max Clarke.

Keighley then went into the lead for the first time after Farrell produced a looping kick to Holroyd, and he scored a simple try in the corner. Beharrell added the two from the sideline.

Former Cougars player Valu Tane Bentley then got himself onto the scoresheet on the cusp of half time after great work from Dan Coates and Louis Collinson before Hookem added the extras, to end the first half at 20-18.

The first 10 minutes of the second period were fairly even for both sides, although Keighley almost took the lead when Alfie Dean produced a great drive forward, only for Craig McShane to make a superb tackle to keep the visitors out.

The Cougars did eventually get back on level terms after Beharrell knocked over a penalty after a high tackle from Bailey O’Connor with barely five minutes remaining.

But, as the game entered its final stages, Hookem put the Rams back into the lead from a penalty to maintain their terrific start to the 2026 campaign.

Dewsbury Rams’ head coach Paul March said after the win over his former side: “Obviously I am pleased that we’ve got the two points. We started really well, but we let them back into the game.

“When you're defending for long periods of time, you lose the energy battle. Craig does that every week, he’s only a slight full back, but he’s like a brick wall.

“We just had to dig deep today.”