Dewsbury Rams’ perfect start to league campaign ended by Goole Vikings

In what was a nail-biting contest, the Rams recovered from a 12-6 half-time deficit to lead 14-12, only for a late Vikings try to scupper their 100 per cent record.

Goole opened the scoring in the early stages after Jeylan Hodgson made a clever run and got over despite the best efforts of Louis Collinson and Luke Nelmes, with Jack Miller adding the extras.

The Rams, however, pounced on a Goole handling error soon after to get back into the contest. Craig McShane produced a great offload to Joe Summers who in turn made a sublime pass to Bailey O’Connor who forced himself over. Jacob Hookem was unable to level the scoreline.

Despite Goole having sustained sets, the hosts managed to level the score from a Hookem penalty after a high tackle on Jack McShane.

With the Rams being pinned back to their own line for sustained periods, Liam Watts restored Goole’s six-point lead from a quick pass-through Brett Ferres, allowing Watts to force himself over the line, with Miller able to add the extras.

Thomas Delaney was then denied the first try of the second period after some quick passing play from Brad Graham and George Senior, but Delaney’s attempt for a diving try in the corner was disallowed for a knock on.

However,the winger was soon able to score the Rams’ second try of the match after collecting a quick pass. Hookem was unable to add the extras, with the score staying at 12-10 to Goole.

The visitors came close to extending their slender lead, but the Rams defence did well to thwart Callum Shaw.

Ferres was sent into the sin bin after a high tackle on Jamie Gill, which could have easily been red, and the Rams used the man advantage well with Craig McShane on hand to put the Rams into the lead for the first in the afternoon after being assisted by Dan Coates.

But their lead was wiped out when Shaw went over in the corner with less than ten minutes remaining.

And with just two points separating the sides, the hosts were denied a last-minute try when the referee deemed there to be a knock-on in the build-up to a dramatic Liam Copland effort.

Head Coach Paul March said after the narrow loss: “I am disappointed with the defeat. I thought we started the game slowly, but come back into it.

“Obviously the turning point in the game has to be the Brett Ferres sin bin, is it a red or is it a yellow? It was a game in the balance where we’ve got to be more clinical to get the opportunities.

“Liam Copland missed out on a last minute try in the corner, but we had chances to win the game, but disappointed because it was an old fashioned rugby game.”