Rams grind out victory over Whitehaven

Anthony Thackeray was among the Rams try scorers

It was far from a classic as the game never really flowed with mistakes from both sides, coupled with a total of 17 penalties being awarded.

Dewsbury were forced to come from behind as Haven took a 10th minute lead when Brett Seymour fed Scott McAvoy, who raced away and stepped past full-back Karl Pryce to score. Seymour pulled his conversion wide.

The introduction of Aaron Brown gave the Rams impetus and they drew level thanks to a fine individual try from Dalton Grant.

The winger broke on the left, cut inside and back out before handing off a cover tackler to score in the corner.

Dewsbury took a 28th minute lead as Brown fed Anthony Thackeray, who sold a dummy and side stepped his way through the Haven defence and behind the posts to give Tom Hemingway a simple conversion.

Thackeray slotted over a drop goal soon after, stretching the Rams lead to 11-4 but as the home side appeared to be taking control, Whitehaven struck back with two dual registration players combining.

Phil Joseph sent a long cut out pass to put Declan Hulme over in the right corner but Seymour was again wide with his conversion attempt.

Dewsbury ended the first half on attack as Danny Craven punched a dangerous Hemingway kick into touch just before Jason Crookes pounced for the try.

Whitehaven started the second half well and moved ahead with a 48th minute try when debutant stand-off John Paul Brocklebank sent a fine pass which put Jessie Joe Parker over for a walk-in try.

Danny Craven took over the kicking duties but was unable to add the goal.

Dewsbury regained the lead on the hour when Thackeray kicked towards the line on the last tackle and the ball bounced up for Rob Spicer to gather and touch down. Hemingway converted.

Four minutes later, the Rams had breathing space as Thackeray fed Luke Adamson and he carried three Haven defenders over the line to score a debut try, which Hemingway converted.

Dewsbury knocked on the kick off and from the resulting attack, Dion Aiyre and Parker linked to put winger Craig Calvert over at the left corner. Crucially, Craven missed Whitehaven’s fourth conversion of the game ad the Rams held a seven point lead.

Dewsbury’s kick off sailed out on the full, putting Haven back on attack but the Rams defence remained firm and they closed the game out to seal the two points.

Dewsbury Rams: Pryce; Morton, Crookes, Grady, Grant; Wildie, Thackeray; Haggarty, Hemingway, Hepworth, Spicer, Hale, L Adamson. Subs: Brown, Farrell, T Adamson, Aizue.

Whitehaven: Craven; Burns, Hulme, Parker, CAlvert; Brocklebank, Seymour; Fox, Newton, Lauluai, Aiyre, McAvoy, Allen. Subs: Davies, Hepi, Coyle, Joseph.

Referee: Joe Cobb.

Attendance: 911