DEWSBURY RAMS 22 KEIGHLEY COUGARS 20
RICKY WILBY, FLAIR Stadium, Sunday

JACOB HOOKEM was the hero for Dewsbury as his 79th minute penalty ensured a last-gasp win for the Rams over Keighley.

A game that was played in tough conditions saw three tries each in the first half but only four points scored in the second. With time running down, a penalty for each side in the closing six minutes saw the Rams run out two-point victors.

Both teams came into the game full of confidence after Challenge Cup victories the previous week against West Hull and Heworth respectively, but it was the Rams who started much the brighter, scoring two tries in the opening ten minutes.

The first came from a flowing move that saw Tom Delaney touch down in the right corner with Hookem converting from close to the touchline.

Five minutes later and the Rams were in again as a smart inside ball saw Brad Graham charge over to the left of the posts. Hookem again converted to give the hosts a 12-0 lead.

Short of the twenty-minute mark, the Cougars brought themselves back into the game when a smart short-side play down the right from Izaac Farrell saw Dylan Proud charge over from short range. Matty Beharrell converted to halve the deficit.

The Rams extended their lead to eight points with a penalty conceded by the Cougars in front of the posts, which was converted by Hookem.

The Cougars responded in the 25th minute with another smart play down their right edge. Brad Holroyd was the beneficiary of a smart offload over the top – touching down in the corner with Beharrell adding the touchline conversion.

The game was paused on the half-hour when Max Clarke received a high tackle which resulted in Jacob Parkinson receiving a yellow card.

With the man advantage, Keighley marched downfield and the ball was chipped into the hands of Holroyd who touched down in the corner for his second of the afternoon. Beharrell converted again from the touchline to give the Cougars a four-point lead.

The Rams regained their lead with time running down to half time after a knock-on by Keighley allowed them field position to attack and a short ball to Valu Tanē Bentley saw him touch down to the right of the posts. Hookem converted to give them a two-point advantage at the break.

The game was punctuated with penalties and errors after half-time and the game spilled over short of the hour mark with both sides reduced to twelve men with Dan Coates and Lanskey being sent to the sin bin following a fracas 20 metres from the Dewsbury line.

In difficult conditions, both sides were struggling to keep hold of the ball, preventing either side from scoring until six minutes from time, when a high tackle by Dewsbury gave Keighley the opportunity to level the scores, which Beharrell did successfully ten metres in from touch. 

But the game swung again, when with two minutes remaining Keighley were adjudged to have stolen the ball 30 metres from their own line and, with time ticking down, Hookem slotted the penalty to give the hosts a two-point lead with seconds remaining.

A short kick-off was collected by the Rams, who managed to see out the remaining time to secure a vital two points.

GAMESTAR: Jacob Hookem controlled the game for the Rams and his perfect kicking record ensured a vital two points for Dewsbury.

GAMEBREAKER: Hookem’s last-minute penalty goal secured the win for the home side and with time running down, the Cougars didn’t have the opportunity to get back into the game.

MATCHFACTS

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

Tries: Delaney (2), Graham (7), Bentley (39)
Goals: Hookem 5/5
Sin bin: Parkinson (30) – high tackle, Coates (57) – fighting

COUGARS
1 Connor Sayner
2 Brad Holroyd
5 Dylan Proud
4 Max Clarke
19 David Foggin-Johnston
6 Izaac Farrell
7 Matty Beharrell
8 Dan Parker
14 George Flanagan
10 Jack Teanby
21 Alfie Dean
12 Lachlan Lanskey
11 Lucas Green
Subs (all used)
17 Jordan Schofield
13 Aaron Brown
9 Oli Burton
20 Leo Skerrett-Evans

Tries: Proud (17), Holroyd (25, 33)
Goals: Beharrell 4/4
Sin bin: Lanskey (57) – fighting

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 12-6, 14-6, 14-12, 14-18, 20-18; 20-20, 22-20

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Rams: Jacob Hookem; Cougars: Izaac Farrell

Penalty count: 15-14
Half-time: 20-18
Referee: Aaryn Belafonte