Rams narrowly lose out to Barrow Raiders at FLAIR Stadium.
After last Sunday’s defeat at the LNER Community Stadium against York Knights, the Rams returned to FLAIR Stadium to face Barrow Raiders, who were victorious earlier this season when the sides met in a 27-20 victory in April.
It was a brilliant start by the Rams who got the first points of the game when Perry Whiteley pounced on a brilliant grubber through by Bailey O’Connor to score his seventh try of the season.
However, it wasn’t long until Brad Walker crossed for the visitors and a successful conversion from Ryan Shaw levelled the game.
Shaw then put the Raiders ahead with a penalty goal from twenty five metres out but the Rams brought the scores level with a penalty of their own from the boot of Calum Turner.
Just before the break it looked like the Rams would be going in ahead when Perry Whiteley scored his second of the afternoon, after a high ball wasn’t dealt with properly by the Barrow defence.
That wasn’t to be though, just as the hooter was about to sound Shane Toal pounced on a remarkable Raiders offload on the Rams’ line.
Shaw got the first points of the second half for Barrow when he kicked another penalty goal and soon after he scored a try in the corner to stretch the Raiders’ lead to ten points.
The Rams weren’t done though and remarkably took the lead after a quick-fire double from Bailey O’Connor, on both occasions the fullback carving his way through the Barrow defence.
However, Ryan Shaw once again pegged the Rams back with a penalty goal from close range and a drop goal from Bradley Walker nudged Barrow in front with only minutes remaining.
With the Rams chasing the game, Joshua Wood scored for Barrow with just seconds remaining to confirm the victory for, on another disappointing day for the Rams.
After the game, Head Coach Paul March said, “That was a really tough one to take for us today, we’ve put ourselves in a position to win the game twice today and both times through unforced errors we’ve let it get away from us.”
Next up for the Rams it’s back at FLAIR Stadium next Sunday to face Whitehaven RLFC, kick off 15:00.
Dewsbury Rams (24): O’Connor, Carr, Graham, M.Walker, Whiteley, Turner, Hookem, Morris, Davies, J.Walker, Billington, Garside, Summers.
Interchanges: Dawson, Briggs, Silk, Tomlinson, Collinson (18th)
Tries: Whiteley (4′, 38′), O’Connor (64′, 67′)
Conversions: Turner (3/4)
Penalty Goal: Turner (36′)
Barrow Raiders (31): Cresswell, Bulman, Toal, Broadbent, Shaw, B.Walker, Wood, Gillam, Smith, Burke, Greenwood, Stack, Brown.
Interchanges: Wilkinson, T.Walker, Pye, Carter, Bedward (18th).
Tries: B.Walker (15′), Toal (40′), Shaw (57′), Wood (80′)
Conversions: Shaw (4/4)
Penalty Goal: Shaw (29′, 54′, 76′)
Drop Goal: B.Walker (78′)
The Rams Man of the Match as selected by S&K Motorcycle Training was Perry Whiteley.
