DEWSBURY RAMS 16 HUNSLET HAWKS 8.
For some reason, most of our recent games against Hunslet have ended up as scrappy, ill tempered affairs and yesterday’s instalment was no different. Okay so the conditions didn’t help, the rain tumbling down on a wet and muddy pitch always suggested that we were never going to get an open, free-flowing game. Having said that, these are two semi professional Rugby League clubs and I’d been expecting a lot more than we got in an eminently forgettable first half.
Both sides made far too many mistakes, but when I say that the highlight of those first twenty minutes was a penalty kicked from in front of the posts by Hawks stand-off Joe McLocklan, you’ll have some idea how bad things were.
Indeed it was around the half hour mark before the Rams showed what they were capable of. From a scrum deep in their own half, Patch Walker chipped ahead, the ball bouncing perfectly for full back James Craven to gather and race half the length of the pitch to open the Rams scoring with a good try. With Walker adding the conversion it seemed that they were back in the game, only for Hunslet to snatch back the lead with a try from John Oakes and an excellent touchline conversion from McLocklan some three minutes later.
And that was about it.
Half Time :- Rams 6 Hawks 8.
Unfortunately the early moments of the second half suggested that we were going to get more of the same. Craven seemed to be over in the early moments but was unable to ground the ball, and at the other end another Rams fumble could have led to a score but neither side seemed able to convert their chances.
For me it took the break from loan signing Liam Hood to finally get both the Dewsbury team and their supporters going. Though his break was finally halted, both the players and supporters seemed to take heart from it. The forwards, led once more by Steve Crossley, began to make inroads into the Hawks defence, though it was the backs who benefited most from their efforts.
Even so there was around an hour on the clock before another cute kick from Patch Walker’s pink boot had everyone but James Craven heading in the wrong direction, allowing the full back time to gather and touch down for his second try of the game. Again Walker added the conversion.
On the whole the Rams were beginning to dominate, and it was no real surprise when they spun the ball to the left allowing Austin Buchanan to dive over in the corner some five minutes later. Though Walker was unable to kick the conversion, Dewsbury were up by 16 points to eight, a lead they never really looked like relinquishing. Even so it was hard work, and I for one was pleased to hear the hooter go.
So, another win for The Rams, the points taking them to 4th in the League standings, and a hard earned bonus point for Hunslet was probably just reward for a hard afternoon’s work.
Final Score :- Dewsbury Rams 16 Hunslet Hawks 8.
Referee :- Gareth Hewer.
Attendance :- 850
Man of the Match :- Patrick Walker.
Teams :- Dewsbury Rams :- 1. James Craven; 2. Greg Scott; 3. Ryan Esders; 4. Ayden Faal; 5. Austin Buchanan; 6. Patrick Walker; 7. Scott Spaven; 8. Ben Jones; 9. George Flanagan; 10. Steve Crossley; 11. Rob Spicer; 12. Dwayne Barker; 13; Josh Tonks. Subs :- 14. Liam Hood; 15. Michael Wainwright; 16. Matty Nicholson; 17. Cain Southernwood.
Hunslet Hawks :- 1. Elliott Hodgson; 2. Lee Brickwood; 19. Gareth Davies; 3. David Clayton; 5. Stuart Kain; 6. Joe McLocklan; 7. Ryan Smith; 8. Andy Yates; 9. Luke Haigh; 10. Anthony Henderson; 11. Richard Blakeway; 12. John Pakes; 13.; David March. Subs :- 17. Jack Bradbury; 15. Steve Lewis; 16. Neil Lowe; 20. David Tootill.
Edited by Ossy, 23 April 2012 - 12:02 PM.
