Rams unbeaten run comes to an end against Hunslet in close encounter at South Leeds Stadium.
Doncaster’s shock defeat to Midlands Hurricanes on the same afternoon meant the Rams would seal top spot with victory with a win at Hunslet, 14 years to the day since triumph at Keighley sewed up the league title in 2009.
There was little between the sides throughout the 80 minutes, with both sides scoring three tries, but the in-form Parksiders had just enough to get the job done.
Sam Day returned to the Rams side, while there was a rare start for Jackson Walker as we aimed to cement promotion to the Championship following last week’s hard-fought win over North Wales Crusaders.
Attacking from left to right in the first half in blustery conditions at the South Leeds Stadium, the Rams made a nervy start to the contest as determined Hunslet defence from the kick-off forced a loose offload and error.
The hosts took full advantage, moving the ball left on the third play and sending loanee Johnny Campbell sliding over in the corner. Beharrell sent a difficult conversion attempt wide, restricting Hunslet’s early lead to 4-0.
Paul Sykes’ towering restart won possession back for Dewsbury, and a repeat set, followed by a penalty for offside offered the visitors a great chance to provide an instant response.
The Rams were over the line when Sykes snapped up Matt Garside’s short ball inside, but the pass was ruled forward, letting the hosts off the hook.
The two sides traded sets in the minutes that followed, with the Rams enjoying the greater share of territory and forcing errors to earn attacking opportunities.
Hunslet posed questions of their own off the back of a seven-tackle set but the Rams would strike next.
A break from Connor Davies sent Owen Restall racing away, and a few plays later Brad Graham was able to twist and turn his way over following a neat shortside play.
Sykes’ cool conversion handed the Rams a 6-4 advantage with 25 minutes on the clock, and Liam Finn’s side completed well during the period that followed, building pressure and threatening a further score.
Graham thought he had a second when he snapped up a pass from Sykes off a neat move, but play was once again pulled back for a forward pass.
Several minutes later Ollie Greensmith released Perry Whiteley down the left wing, but an excellent cover tackle forced the Rams winger into touch.
And the Rams were made to pay for the missed opportunities, as former Dewsbury half-back Beharrell stepped back off his left foot and tunnelled his way over the line to restore an unlikely advantage for Hunslet just shy of the interval.
Beharrell’s goal from in front of the posts made it 10-6 the home side as the teams headed into the sheds, despite a late attacking push from Dewsbury.
That theme continued into the opening exchanges of the second half, with Dewsbury pressure from the restart seeing them quickly go level following a looping pass which found Bailey O’Connor with enough room to squeeze over inside the right touchline.
Sykes’ conversion attempt didn’t have the legs, leaving the scoreline tied, but the visitors continued to turn the screw in search of the lead, spending the much of the next period camped in Hunslet territory.
However, against the run of play, Hunslet regained the ascendency when a gaping gap in the Rams defence was exposed by Josh Jordan-Roberts, who had an easy run to the line after Beharrell had attracted attention. Beharrell’s goal made it 16-10 with 55 minutes played.
The Rams rallied well following the concession and continued to apply pressure, though fast play around the ruck from our hosts kept the visiting defence honest.
Finally, we managed to narrow arrears when Graham leapt to claim Turner’s cross-field kick and dot down for a second try. But Sykes’ attempt at goal was wide, preserving two-point lead for Hunslet.
The Rams grew increasingly desperate as the crucial score remained elusive, making several uncharacteristic errors that granted Hunslet good field position.
The winning score was agonisingly close when Connor Davies chased Turner’s grubber, but the referee adjudged that the ball had trickled dead before his hands made contact.
The closing stages saw players from both sides sin-binned. Myles Lawford was shown a yellow card following a period of persistent penalties, while Restall was dispatched for a professional foul at the tap 20.
And despite relentless Rams pressure in the closing moments of the game, the hooter beat Finn’s men, whose unbeaten run ends.
After the game Rams Head Coach Liam Finn said, “It’s very disappointing for the lads today, for some of the them it was the biggest game that they’ve played in, in terms of consequences so I can forgive them for being nervous.
Fair play to Hunslet, they defended well and stopped us getting the ball down when we got over the line when we were on top in the game.”
Our next game sees us back at FLAIR Stadium for another massive game against Workington Town on Sunday 6th August (15:00).
Hunslet RLFC (16): Watson, Render, Ryder, J.Burton, Campbell, Beharrell, Lawford, H.Hallas, S.Hallas, Crossley, Jordan-Roberts, York, Knowles.
Interchanges: O.Burton, Syme, Wray, Green, Stroud (18th).
Tries: Campbell (2’), Beharrell (38’), Jordan-Roberts (55’).
Conversions: Beharrell (2/3)
Yellow Card: Lawford (78’)
Dewsbury Rams (14): Restall, Carr, O’Connor, Greensmith, Whiteley, Sykes, Turner, Walker, Butterworth, Beckett, Garside, Graham, Davies.
Interchanges: Day, R.Dixon, Morris, Maher, Summers (18th)
Tries: Graham (22’, 63’), O’Connor (45’)
Conversions: Sykes (1/3)
Yellow Card: Restall (80’)
