Dewsbury Rams have safely made it through to the next round of the Challenge Cup, the Rams were victorious against conference side Thatto Heath Crusaders.
The Crusaders have made waves so far during the Challenge Cup, as they beat League One side North Wales Crusaders in the fourth round of the competition, Lee Greenwood was hoping a similar fate would not come at the Rams expense. It duly didn’t as a dominant second half display saw off a determined Thatto Heath side.
Dewsbury began the game well and got the first points on the board on the 3rd minute, Andrew Gabriel saw a gap in the Thatto Heath defence and exploited it by making a pin point run towards the corner to score. Liam Finn was on kicking duties for the Rams, he missed his first conversion attempt, making the score 4-0.
The home side then started to push back, with some spirited attacking down the left hand side, and that is where they got their first points from. Matty Norton slammed the ball over the line for Thatto to score. Bobbie Goulding missed his first conversion attempt for Thatto Heath and so the score was now 4-4.
Thatto Heath were at this point putting the Rams under some real pressure, but it was the visitors who scored the next points. Rob Worrincy collected the ball on the wing to go on and score over the whitewash in the 23rd minute. Finn converted the kick to extend the Rams lead to 10-4.
Just five minutes later the home side scored again, Mike Stark this time planting the ball over the line for the conference side. Goulding made sure his kick went through the sticks to put the score at 10-10.
The second half started off much like the first with the Rams scoring the first few minutes of the game. Lucas Walshaw collected a ball that bounced off an opponents head, after taking possession, Walshaw flopped over the line to score. Finn kicked the conversion to score the extra two points to put the score line at 16-10 to Dewsbury.
Dewsbury extended their lead in the 52nd minute when on loan Wigan player Sammy Kibula smashed his way through the Thatto Heath defence to go over the line under the posts. Finn again made sure the extra points were scored as his kick sailed through the sticks, making the score 22-10 to the Rams.
The Rams started to dominate the play and Adam Ryder sprung into action when an attacking play opened up in the 66th minute. Ryder managed to hold onto the ball under mounting pressure from Thatto Heath tackles, he managed to get over the line to score another try for the visitors. Finn again converted his kick which put the score at Thatto Heath 10-28 Dewsbury Rams.
Another try for the Rams was added on the 71st minute when Tom Garratt waltzed his way through the Thatto Heath defence to score. Finn who was making his 450th career appearance this time missed the conversion attempt putting the score at 32-10 to the Rams.
Unfortunately the game was halted just a few moments later for a long stoppage, Thatto Heath player Ben Heyes and Dewsbury player Cam Leeming were involved in a nasty collision which left both players on the ground. The medical staff rushed onto the field and both players were taken off. Whilst the incident was a bad collision fortunately both players were awake and talking after the match. Cam Leeming was later taken to hospital and then taken home to recuperate.
Also during the stoppage the medical staff had to assist a fan who had fallen ill, the Thatto Heath fan was later taken to hospital.
The game resumed on the 73rd minute and obviously the mood had changed with concern for the two players and the supporter who went down. Both sides played out the rest of the match in a professional manner.
Robbie Ward managed to get himself on the score sheet right as the hooter went, Jode Sheriffe passed the ball to Ward with a terrific off load, Ward then sprinted away with a turn of speed to score. Finn missed the conversion making the final score Thatto Heath 10-36 Dewsbury Rams.
Photo credit- Peter Smith Freelance photographer
