Dewsbury Rams turn on style to overcome Whitehaven

The Rams deservedly led 16-8 at the break but simply blew Haven away with a devastating 11 minute spell at the start of the second half, which saw them run in four converted tries.

Glenn Morrison has certainly got the Rams gelling and at times the rugby on show was a joy to watch.

It took Dewsbury just two minutes to open the scoring as they ran a penalty and James Craven slipped a lovely pass out for Scott Hale to score, with Dale Morton converting from wide out.

Haven replied with Craig Calvert diving in at the left corner but the Rams responded and after Hale was inches away from grounding a bouncing ball in the in-goal area, Dewsbury cut loose and having opened the defence Aaron Brown fed Karl Pryce.

The centre stormed upfield, turned a defender inside out and slipped a lovely pass out for Greg Scott to score in the corner.

Three minutes later Lucas Walshaw spun out of a tackle and planted the ball over the line.

Haven had a spell of pressure and Lee Paterson gathered a short ball to score their second try before Pryce produced a brilliant tackle to deny Seb Martins close to the line.

Morton landed a 40th minute penalty as the Rams led 16-8 at half-time.

Two minutes after the break Adam O’Brien made a superb break before drawing the cover defence and sending Walshaw racing over for his second try. Morton converted

Rob Spicer brought the crowd to their feet three minutes later as he broke through and shrugged off a would be tackler before racing between the posts to give Morton a simple goal.

O’Brien was involved again as he darted from acting half back and was held close before Jy-mel Coleman nipped over for the Rams, with Morton landing the goal.

Whitehaven attempted to break out of defence but superb stand-off Brown plucked a long pass out of the air and raced down the touchline for a wonderful interception try. Morton again goaled and Dewsbury were out of sight, leading 40-8.

Ryan Wright and Tom Lillycrop were held inches short as the Rams threatened again and the final try came 10 minutes from full-time when half-backs Coleman and Brown linked to switch play left. Tommy Gallagher fed Hale, who put Morton in at the corner and he landed a brilliant touchline goal to cap a superb all-round display.

Dewsbury Rams: Craven; Morton, Pryce, Hale, Scott; Brown, Coleman; Lillycrop, Wright, Hepworth, Spicer, Walshaw, Gallagher. Subs: O’Brien, Nash, Murphy, Aizue.

Whitehaven: Thorman; Fleming, McAvoy, Parker, Calvert; Rooney, Southernwood; Jackson, Newton, Collnean, Clarke, Doran, Paterson.

Referee: Matthew Thomason.

Attendance: 813.