Rams’ open with a win

York Knights 10

DEWSBURY Rams opened their Co-operative Championship season with deserved and hard fought win over a Knights side who came to joust.

Rams coach Warren Jowitt was delighted with the win and was quick to say that after the building blocks of the Northern Rail Competition the side he has built is ready for the Championship.

“Today was the first step to where we want to be going,” he explained.

A try by winger Austin Buchanan in the second minute in the corner set the Rams going and after 11 minutes centre Ayden Faal added to the lead with a try converted by Patch Walker. At 10-0 it felt as if the Rams were paving the way for a points spree. But despite plenty of pressure and a disallowed try it didn’t materialise. The only other points of the half came from a 65 metre penalty goal by Walker on the stroke of half-time to lead 12-0.

York came out fired up after the break and pulled a try back throughout Tom Bush.

Dewsbury worked their way back into the game and took control with a 56th minute try as Dwayne Barker scored from a Rams turnover. converted by Walker.

The introduction of George Flanagan from the bench ensured the win for Dewsbury as he created space and chances for the Rams. In the 67th minute Faal scored his second try Of the contest and Walker’s conversion gave them a 24-4 lead.

York pulled one back through Dave Sutton, converted by Chris Thorman, before Josh Tonks sent the Rams fans in the 1059 crowd home happy with a great team try four minutes from time again converted by Walker. Afterwards Jowitt said he felt his players gave their all, especially in the first half.

“We had 15 new players out there most of them weren’t with us last season they are still finding their feet out with each other but we will support them and keep building on this performance.

“It will put us in good stead we couldn’t have had a better start to the season.”

Jowitt explained that York gave a good examination of his side. “You can’t take anything away from York Chris Thorman gave us a good test (Ben) Hellewell showed what he could do from full-back.”

“We had a bit of a lull in the second half where we lost the play a bit but fair play to them they stuck to their guns and George Flanagan changed the game that’s what he can do and what he does for us. Doing that for us will pay dividends througout the season.”

See Friday’s Dewsbury Reporter for a full match report reaction and pictures.