Rams beaten by Keighley at Cougar Park in AB Sundecks 1895 Cup opener.
After what seemed an eternity since their last competitive fixture back in August against Doncaster, the Rams finally got their 2024 season underway at Cougar Park against Keighley Cougars.
The Rams were under pressure early after a contentious forward pass call gave the Cougars a scrum on the Rams ten metre line, but it was the Rams who got the first score of the game. Lovely interplay through the middle from Paul Sykes and Owen Restall gave Matt Garside an easy run through to score under the sticks.
Keighley brought the game level just five minutes later though when Ben Dean, who broke through the Rams line and managed to get the ball over the line, despite the last ditch tackle from Jimmy Beckett.
The next ten minutes were constant Cougar pressure and only a try-saving tackle by Louis Collinson meant that the Rams held out, but just before the half-hour mark the Cougars took the lead when Brandon Pickersgill squeezed his way over in the right-hand corner.
Lachlan Lanskey then put the home side further in front after cutting inside and through the Rams defence to score just to the right of the sticks. Just to add further insult to injury, on the hooter Jack Miller kicked a drop goal to give Keighley an eleven-point lead at the break.
Keighley carried their momentum through to the second half and unsurprisingly added to their lead when Charlie Graham managed to burrow his way over from dummy half.
With a little under fifteen minutes remaining, Paul Sykes was then sent to the sin-bin for a late shot on Jack Miller. Down to twelve and running out of time, the Rams conceded two further scores, Charlie Graham scored his second of the afternoon and then Ellis Robson wriggled over from close range.
After the game Rams Assistant Coach Jaymes Chapman said, “I think that’s probably the worst I’ve ever seen a Dewsbury Rams side play.
I’ve got to give credit to Keighley they played well, looked super enthusiastic and our attitude and enthusiasm were way off the mark today.”
Our next game sees us back at FLAIR Stadium on Sunday 4th February to face Bradford Bulls in our second AB Sundecks 1895 game, with kick off at 15:00.
Keighley Cougars (35): Pickersgill, Graham, Ryder, Sa’u, Walkley, Dean, Miller, Maher, Brown, Ioane, Robson, Lanskey, Parker.
Interchanges: Stead, Kesik, Hatton, Schofield, Lynam (18th)
Tries: Dean (15′), Pickersgill (28′), Lanksey (33′), Graham (54′, 68′), Robson (76′)
Conversions: Miller (5/6)
Drop Goal: Miller (40′)
Dewsbury Rams (6): Restall, Whiteley, Greensmith, O’Connor, Corion, Sykes, Turner, Beckett, Davies, Morris, Graham, Garside, Collinson.
Interchanges: R.Dixon, Hird, Hookem, Dawson, D.Dixon (18th)
Tries: Garside (10′)
Conversions: Sykes (1/1)
Yellow Card: Sykes (66′)
Attendance: 839
