Dewsbury Rams in ‘ridiculous’ three games a week schedule twice in final stretch

The fixture signifies a third game in nine days after trips to Goole Vikings (last Saturday) and Keighley Cougars (Wednesday) - with the Rams looking for a win to maintain their hopes of a top-ten finish.

But this will not be the end of their gruelling schedule as the 2026 campaign reaches its final stages, with Dewsbury, who will have a bye round next, then facing Whitehaven away on Sunday, August 16, Rochdale at home on Wednesday, August 19, and Heavy Woollen rivals Batley Bulldogs at FLAIR Stadium on Sunday, August 23, for a trio of games in the space of just eight days.

“It’s ridiculous to be fair,” March explained to the Reporter Series. “We’re not doing it once, we will be doing it in mid-August as well when we play Whitehaven, Rochdale and Batley in the same week.

“For the midweek games, the lads will be working all day and then you’re asking them to travel. Preparation goes out of the window but the lads will be putting themselves in a situation where they can get the best outcome.”

Asked if 17th-placed Hunslet, with just one win in their last ten outings and five defeats on the spin, would be relishing playing the Rams on the back of a hectic week, March replied:

“100 per cent. And Batley will be doing the same when we play them at the end of a three-game week. But it is what it is. We can’t make excuses. We lost a couple of players through injury at the weekend.

“It is that time of year when people are playing a bit busted, but we can’t use three games in a week as an excuse. We need to make sure that we continue to perform in each game and if we do that we can pick the points up.

“The top ten is still in our grasp, with the games in hand and I am confident the lads can pull it around.”

March confirmed that star half-back Jacob Hookem won’t be available until the Whitehaven game, at least, due to HIA protocols.