BATLEY BULLDOGS 21 DEWSBURY RAMS 20
KEITH McGHIE, Fox’s Biscuits Stadium, Friday

JOSH WOODS landed a late field-goal as Batley twice battled back from behind to claim a third league win of the season and wreck Dewsbury’s extraordinary away record in an absorbing Good Friday derby.

The Rams led for much of an increasingly tense Heavy Woollen derby, including by twelve points in the first half, but a late try from Robbie Butterworth and Woods’ second successful conversion in a strong and hard-to-judge wind opened the door for the single-point winner.

Incongruously Dewsbury had won all of their previous three away matches while losing a trio of their four home encounters.

It was the second week running the Rams had seen a lead slip in the dying moments after their agonising on-the-hooter defeat by Sheffield five days beforehand.

Brandon Douglas, on loan to the Bulldogs from Bradford, started in his 150th senior appearance, while fellow loanee and debutant Cain Robb, from Castleford, came off of the bench.

Playing with the advantage of both the slope and a very blustery wind, recent Rams acquisition Danny Addy twisted and turned his way over near the posts with Jacob Hookem having no trouble landing the first of his four goals.

Fullback Butterworth then fumbled a Caelum Jordan grubber and Joe Summers pounced to score a second try.

Hookem hit the upright with his conversion attempt but slotted a penalty shortly after.

Derrell Olpherts squeezed in at the corner to narrow the deficit and Ben Reynolds added a penalty for a high tackle on the stroke of half-time.

Hookem restored the eight-point margin with a simple penalty just after the break but Reynolds and Butterworth combined neatly to put Wesley Bruines over, although again the Bulldogs’ kicking halfback failed to judge the breeze with the conversion.

Evan Hodgson was held up before a Woods kick to the corner was plucked from the air and grounded by Olpherts for his sixth touchdown of the season.

Reynolds’ conversion was unsuccessful for a third time, leaving the score level.

Hookem fared better when the Rams gained another penalty for a ruck infringement in front of the posts to edge the visitors ahead once more.

And when a long Dan Coates pass enabled Tom Delaney to score by the flag, things looked bleak for the Bulldogs.

But Hookem this time was just wayward with the kick that might have settled matters.

Lucas Walshaw was held up but Batley were proving frustratingly wasteful in possession, yet Butterworth dovetailed well with Paul Foulstone to score and Woods tied the affair once more with barely two minutes remaining.

As nerves were tested to the full Dewsbury knocked on in their own half and the Bulldogs took advantage to work closer with Woods slotting a fine drop-goal to snatch the points.

GAMESTAR: Wesley Bruines’ vital try was just reward for a fine all-round display.

GAMEBREAKER: Josh Woods’ one-pointer separated the sides and broke Rams hearts again.

MATCHFACTS

BULLDOGS
1 Robbie Butterworth
26 Paul Foulstone
4 Wesley Bruines
20 Jack Hudson
25 Derrell Olpherts
6 Ben Reynolds
7 Josh Woods
29 Brandon Douglas
9 Aliatair Leak
13 Robson Stevens
11 Dane Manning
12 Lucas Walshaw
18 Evan Hodgson
Subs (all used)
14 Ben White
16 Michael Ward
27 Ronan Dixon
28 Cain Robb

Tries: Olpherts (24, 56), Bruines (50), Butterworth (79)
Goals: Reynolds 1/4, Woods 1/1
Field-goals: Woods (80)

RAMS
1 Craig McShane
3 Caelum Jordan
29 Bailey O’Connor
4 George Senior
2 Tom Delaney
6 Dan Coates
7 Jacob Hookem
16 Louis Collinson
9 Jack McShane
8 Luke Nelmes
11 Joe Summers
23 Brad Graham
35 Danny Addy
Subs (all used)
13 Dec Tomlinson
15 Jacob Bateman
17 Harvey Roberts
22 George Rayner

Tries: Addy (7), Summers (12), Delaney (69)
Goals: Hookem 4/6

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-10, 0-12, 4-12, 6-12; 6-14, 10-14, 14-14, 14-16, 14-20, 20-20, 21-20

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Bulldogs: Wesley Bruines; Rams: Dan Coates

Penalty count: 5-5
Half-time: 6-12
Referee: Denton Arnold