Rams beat Bulldogs in epic Good Friday encounter at FLAIR Stadium.
After an opening day defeat at the hands of the Halifax Panthers, the Rams were looking to bounce back in a Good Friday showdown against old friends from across the valley, Batley Bulldogs.
It was the visitors who had the hosts under the cosh in the opening stages, but it was the Rams who took the lead after an excellent break by Bailey O’Connor who fed Curtis Davies for his first try for the club.
Despite going behind, Batley continued to apply pressure throughout the first half but were unable to answer back with the Dewsbury defence holding out very well.
The second forty started off very fiesty between the teams as the tension rose, and it wasn’t long until Kieran Rush and Dane Manning were both sent to the sin-bin after an off the ball fracas. Pre-fracas, the Rams had been awarded a penalty ten meters out, which Calum Turner converted to give the Rams an eight-point lead.
With the game on a knife edge, Perry Whiteley then grabbed the next score of the game after fifty-four minutes, when he ran the length of the field after intercepting a stray Batley pass close to his own tryline.
A brilliant 40-20 by Turner minutes later then gave the Rams another fantastic platform to attack from, which they’d take full advantage of. Whiteley took the ball out wide but stepped inside to feed Ollie Greensmith, who in turn managed to get the pass away to Huddersfield Giants loanee Jack Billington for his first try in first-class rugby league.
Things then got even better for Billington as he crossed for a second time in the game with just under ten minutes remaining to all but secure the win. Adam Gledhill was shown a yellow card for Batley just after the try was scored for an off the ball incident.
As the clock counted down, the Bulldogs did manage a consolation score in the corner through Joe Burton, but this wouldn’t detract from a fantastic Rams performance and a first victory for Head Coach Dale Ferguson.
After the game Rams Head Coach Dale Ferguson said, “I’m really proud of all the players today, they all dug in there for each other in a big local derby, what more could you want in your first win as a coach?”
The Rams MOTM as selected by Match Sponsor, Keepmoat Homes was Calum Turner.
Our next game is back at FLAIR Stadium on Sunday 7th April in our Betfred Championship Round 3 clash against Widnes Vikings, with kick off at 15:00.
Dewsbury Rams (24): O’Connor, Whiteley, Greensmith, M.Walker, Carr, Hookem, Turner, Beckett, Davies, Bibby, Garside, Dawson, Collinson.
Interchanges: Rush, Billington, R.Dixon, Hird, Restall (18th)
Tries: Davies (15′), Whiteley (54′), Billington (58′, 70′)
Conversions: Turner (3/4)
Penalty Goal: Turner (50′)
Yellow Card: Rush (48′)
Batley Bulldogs (4): Kear, Morton, Buchanan, Senior, J.Burton, White, D.Gibbons, Gledhill, Leak, Cooper, Manning, Walshaw, Moore.
Interchanges: O.Burton, Ward, Brown, J.Gibbons, Mitsias (18th)
Tries: Burton (80′)
Conversions: D.Gibbons (0/1)
Yellow Card: Manning (48′), Gledhill (71′)
