Rams exit Betfred Challenge Cup despite battling performance against London Broncos.
After a superb victory against Widnes Vikings in the Fourth Round the reward for the Rams was a trip down to London to face the London Broncos.
The game didn’t get off to the best of starts for the Rams when Iliess Macani went over for an easy score in the corner after some early pressure for the home side.
The Rams however answered straight back, some fantastic tackling forced a knock on close to the Broncos line and from the resulting scrum, Lewis Carr went over for his fifth try of the season.
The home side then threatened to get their noses back in front on several occasions but were stopped by some fantastic Rams last-ditch defending, one highlight was a magnificent Caelum Jordan ankle tap after a Broncos break.
Just after the half hour mark, the Rams were then able to exert some pressure of their own on the Broncos line with four sets back-to-back which unfortunately culminated in a knock on over the Broncos line.
With a couple of minutes to the hooter, the home side managed to get the break they had been threatening just when Bill Leyland scored with a scoot from dummy-half which was converted to give the Broncos a four-point advantage at the break.
The Rams came out firing in the second half straight from the kick off with a great tackle from Caelum Jordan forcing a mistake and shortly after, Lewis Carr scored his second of the afternoon after a fantastic pass to the wing from Reiss Butterworth.
More Rams pressure followed immediately after the try with Rams seemingly camped out on the Broncos line, which paid off when Brad Graham leapt highest to collect a Calum Turner cross-field kick to score.
The Broncos then had a quick-fire double which propelled them back into the lead, firstly Lewis Bienek managed to find a gap in the Rams defence, caused by a Rams player down in back play and then Wellington Albert crossed shortly after from close range.
The home side had all the momentum and Macani then scored second to give the home side a ten-point advantage with just under fifteen minutes left, which was extended further by Marcus Stock, after which Perry Whiteley was sin-binned for dissent. Just to rub some more salt in the wounds, Jarred Bassett scored again for the home side just before the final hooter.
After the game Rams Head Coach Liam Finn said, “I’m really disappointed today, in the second half from about fifty minutes we lost our heads and never really regained our composure.
We ended up conceding back-to-back tries after we went six points ahead, which inevitably hurt us and we never really got back in the game.
We’re looking to get straight back out there last week, after this loss we’re determined to get back out there and get back winning again.”
Our next game sees us back down in the capital in Betfred League One action on Saturday 29th April against London Skolars at New River Stadium (14:30).
London Broncos (36): Walker, Ulberg, Bassett, Hoyes, Macani, O.Leyland, Raiwalui, Albert, Davis, Bienek, Stock, Natoli, Parata.
Interchanges: B.Leyland, Waine, Williams, Parke, Allen (18th)
Tries: Macani (4’, 66’), B.Leyland (38’), Bienek (59’), Albert (63’), Stock (73’), Bassett (79’)
Conversions: Leyland (4/7)
Dewsbury Rams (16): Restall, Carr, Jordan, Greensmith, Whiteley, Sykes, Turner, Beckett, Butterworth, R.Dixon, Garside, Graham, Davies.
Interchanges: Day, Morris, Walker, Littlewood, Coventry (18th)
Tries: Carr (9’, 44’), Graham (51’)
Conversions: Sykes (2/3)
Yellow Card: Whiteley (73’)
