DEWSBURY RAMS 22 ROCHDALE HORNETS ​34
ALEXANDER FYNN, FLAIR Stadium, Wednesday

JADEN DAYES’ try with three minutes to go confirmed a likely fatal blow to Dewsbury’s hopes of making the play-offs.

The Rams, in eleventh, remain four points off local rivals Batley, who they play on Sunday, with as many points still to play for and a tough final game to follow against second-placed Newcastle.

Rochdale, meanwhile, move level on points with Dewsbury after a second successive win, although their vastly inferior points difference makes a top-ten finish virtually impossible.

The hosts had started with intent, having repeat sets on the Hornets line and getting their reward inside five minutes after Jacob Hookem played a cross-field kick which Louie Walker was able to reach ahead of TJ Boyd to dot down in the corner.

However, moments later, Rochdale levelled the proceedings after some quick passing play led Matty Unsworth to dive down on the right edge.

The next ten minutes saw chances aplenty for both sides, but it was the visitors who got themselves in front after Dallimore made a clever kick to the corner and Boyd raced 20 meters before diving down.

Dallimore was unable to convert from wide – his only miss of the night – but Rochdale extended their lead to six after Bailey O’Connor was penalised for a high tackle on Jordan Syme and Dallimore nudged them further in front.

Rochdale added another two points to the score not long later, Brad Graham this time guilty of a high shot on Isaac Coleman and Dallimore converting the penalty from 40 meters out.

The second half started in similar fashion to the first with the Rams showing plenty of intensity, and they got their reward after some quick passing play as Tom Delaney dotted down. But Walker, who converted the opening try, was this time successful from the boot.

Dewsbury then put themselves back into the lead when O’Connor made a brilliant line break and gave a short pass to Walker who tumbled over, with O’Connor converting.

However, Rochdale weren’t laying down and George Roby fed Dallimore through from close range to restore their lead.

The next ten minutes belonged to the Rams, having plenty of sets close to the line, although despite all the possession it was the Hornets who extended their lead to ten. After plenty of offloads close to the line, Roby was able to feed Syme to score between the uprights.

Into the final ten minutes, the tie was still alive as Dewsbury enjoyed repeat sets close to the line and closed the gap to a try after Jacob Parkinson fed Graham through to power over.

But with less than five minutes to go, Dallimore restored the Hornets’ six-point advantage. After Connor Carr fumbled, the stand-off was able to convert a penalty from 35 meters out.

Rochdale were able to seal the win after O’Connor kicked out into touch on the full, making the next set count as Dayes was able to work his way over the line.

Dallimore converted to seal the visitors’ win, leaving the Rams to rue their missed chances.

GAMESTAR: Jamie Dallimore’s conversions and penalty kicks were pivotal for Rochdale.

GAMEBREAKER: Jaden Dayes’ try with three minutes to go made a Dewsbury comeback impossible.

MATCHFACTS

RAMS
29 Bailey O’Connor
19 Louie Walker
27 Connor Carr
4 George Senior
2 Tom Delaney
6 Dan Coates
7 Jacob Hookem
8 Luke Nelmes
21 Monty Lumb
16 Louis Collinson
28 Zach Brown
23 Brad Graham
11 Joe Summers
Subs (all used)
13 Dec Tomlinson
14 Jacob Parkinson
17 Harvey Roberts
18 Jack Briggs

Tries: Walker (4, 47), Delaney (43), Graham (71)
Goals: Walker 1/2, O’Connor 2/2

HORNETS
7 Jordan Paga
35 Alex Chippendale
11 Matty Unsworth
4 Junior Sa’u
22 TJ Boyd
6 Jamie Dallimore
25 Jack Hansen
34 Mark Ioane
9 Ross Whitmore
8 Jaden Dayes
12 Ethan Wood
27 Dan Hackney
13 Jordan Syme
Subs (all used)
10 Lewis Hatton
14 George Roby
31 Jay Scriven
33 Isaac Coleman

Tries: Unsworth (9), Boyd (27), Dallimore (51), Syme (61), Dayes (77)
Goals: Dallimore 7/8

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-6, 6-10, 6-12, 6-14; 10-14, 16-14, 16-20, 16-26, 22-26, 22-28, 22-34

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Rams: Louie Walker; Hornets: Jamie Dallimore

Penalty count: 8-6
Half-time: 6-14
Referee: Denton Arnold