Dewsbury Rams let half-time lead slip for second week running at Sheffield Eagles

By the end of an exciting, topsy-turvy first half, the Rams had established a 24-18 advantage. But the home side responded positively by scoring 24 points of their own in the second half, and only conceding six, to win 42-30.

The result follows on from last week’s second half collapse at Barrow Raiders where Dewsbury threw away a seemingly commanding 28-0 lead, only to concede 39 unanswered points after the break.

Today’s result ensured the Eagles completed the league double over the Rams, who had their hearts broken in March when Kieran Gill crossed in the dying moments with Jordan Lilley converting.

Paul March made only one change to his starting 13 following on from last week’s defeat, with Mitch Souter coming in at hooker after signing on a month loan during the week from Bradford Bulls.

Sheffield started quickly with Connor Bower opening the scoring from a Goal Line Drop Out, with Jordan Abdull playing an offload to Bower who he was able to dive over.

However, the Rams levelled after Kai Morgan and Will Oakes collided from the kick off and knocked on, and the following set saw Connor Carr and Liam Copland link up to score in the corner.

Joe Brown restored Sheffield’s lead after some quick passing play and they almost extended their advantage after Abdull kicked a 40/20, although the following set on the ten-metre line was held out by the Rams’ defence.

Luke Nelmes levelled once again after Souter played through a neat grubber from the play the ball and Nelmes was first to get on the end of.

The next ten minutes was mainly played on the Eagles line, and the pressure was rewarded when Thomas Delaney put the Rams in front for the first time after Bailey O’Connor broke the defence before feeding the ball through to Delaney who dived into the corner. Jacob Hookem was able to convert from a tough angle.

With five minutes to go until the interval, the Eagles spent a repeat set of sixes on the tryline, but once again the Rams’ defence held firm. However, Greg Eden levelled the scoring from a scrum after Abdull played it through.

Just when Sheffield thought that they had scored the final try of the half, Hookem put the Rams back in front after Abdull attempted to kick the ball up the field. The ball ricocheted off the half-back and he was able to dot the ball down. Hookem’s conversion ended an eventful first half, 24-18 to the Rams.

As the second half got underway, Sheffield began as they started the first as George Griffin went over.

The Eagles then restored their lead as Brown doubled his scoring tally after Eden fed him through to dot down in the corner, and Morgan’s 100 per cent record from the boot continued.

In almost a repeat of last week's capitulation at Barrow, errors crept in handing the advantage back to the hosts and it wasn’t long before ex-Rams skipper Reiss Butterworth extended the Eagles’ lead to two converted tries after Dewsbury couldn’t keep the ball in hand, with Butterworth scoring directly under the sticks.

Alex Foster made it 40 for the hosts after he played a great carry from 15 out and he was able to roll himself over despite the Rams defence putting him under pressure.

The Rams had a chance to close the gap on Sheffield after repeated sets of six close to the line, however Sheffield were able to hold them out.

Despite the scoreline, O’Connor scored a consolation try for the Rams after some slick passing to feed the full-back to score a simple try.