DEWSBURY MOOR 6 DEWSBURY RAMS 50
CHRISTIAN LEE, Fox’s Biscuits Stadium, Batley, Saturday
THERE would be no fairy-tale Challenge Cup upset as Dewsbury Rams cruised to victory over their cross-town amateur rivals.
The Rams ran in nine tries, including braces for Dan Coates and Joe Summers, with Jack Clarkson scoring Dewsbury Moor’s only try in reply.
There were ominous signs for the amateurs as the Rams raced into an 18-0 lead early on.
A deft pass put Matt Garside through and Coates was supporting up the inside to finish off the move for the game’s first try before Louis Collinson crashed over moments later.
A penalty in the set after the restart gifted the Rams easy field position again and this time Garside was able to get to the try line as he once more broke through the Moor line.
Hookem added the conversions for all three tries.
The NCL side began to settle into the game after the early barrage and forced some Rams errors with their defensive efforts.
However, as the half wore on, the Rams’ superior strength and fitness began to show and they added to their lead after forcing Moor behind for a drop-out, scoring three more tries for Coates, Hookem and Summers, the latter finding his way to the line under the posts despite the best efforts of four Moor defenders.
Starting the second half, Moor forced an early error from the Rams and capitalised from it, opening their account for the game.
Brierley failed to deal with a kick to the corner and it ricocheted to Clarkson, who dived over, much to the delight of the vocal Moor fans. Gregory Coldbridge slotted the conversion from the touchline.
This would be the shining moment for the home side, who fought valiantly throughout, but the Rams put paid to any comeback with two quick tries from Brierley and Summers.
Moor’s afternoon was made even harder when prop Aaron James tipped a Rams man over the horizontal in the tackle and was sent to the sinbin.
They tried to hold out gamely but eventually Caelum Jordan barged his way to the line in the corner. Hookem again was on target to bring up 50 points for the Rams.
Penalties had cost Moor throughout and, just as they returned to a full complement, Bradley Adams also saw yellow for a high tackle – forcing them to play out the final moments with twelve men.
GAMESTAR: Dan Coates picked up a first-half try double and made the Rams’ attack tick in what was, at times, an untidy encounter.
GAMEBREAKER: When Matt Garside scored the Rams’ third try after seven minutes, his side was 18-0 up and the game was effectively won.
MATCHFACTS
MOOR
1 George Woodcock
2 Jack Clarkson
3 Luke Adamson
4 Joseph Berry
5 Amir Sghaier
6 Harry Hartley
7 Bradley Foster
8 James Samme
9 Kain Fisher
10 Aaron James
11 Gregory Colbridge
12 Lachlan Holmes
13 Bradley Adams
Subs (all used)
14 Bradley Barnes
15 Mitchell Gray
16 Joshua Burland
17 Josh O’Sullivan
Tries: Clarkson (43)
Goals: Colbridge 1/1
Sin bin: James (62) – dangerous tackle, Adams (73) – high tackle
RAMS
1 Charlie Harris
2 Tommy Brierley
3 Caelum Jordan
4 George Senior
15 Keenen Tomlinson
6 Dan Coates
7 Jacob Hookem
8 Jackson Walker
31 Jack McShane
13 Dec Tomlinson
12 Matt Garside
11 Joe Summers
16 Louis Collinson
Subs (all used)
9 Sam Day
10 Toby Everett
19 Jack Briggs
24 Dale Ferguson
Tries: Coates (2, 26), Collinson (4), Garside (7), Hookem (31), Summers (35, 55), Brierley (51), Jordan (71)
Goals: Hookem 7/9
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 0-18, 0-22, 0-26, 0-32; 6-32, 6-38, 6-44, 6-50
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Moor: Kain Fisher; Rams: Dan Coates
Penalty count: 2-13
Half-time: 0-32
Referee: Aaryn Belafonte
Attendance: 1,252