OLD FASHIONED VALUES EARN RAMS A GRITTY DERBY WIN
 

A win last time out against Oldham was not the quality of football shown at the Mount, but it will have built confidence for this vital "derby" game.

Batley's form has been poor but if any game can bring the best out of them it will always be against Dewsbury. The pitch was more like the old pre-summer football era with standing pools of water and each tackle sending the players sliding for yards.

Josh Weeden showed how the game would be played with an absolute bell ringer of a tackle on Ashley Lindsey. The "derby" match was producing some tough forward play.

Tim Spears stopped big Andy Hobson with a crunching tackle but the Rams suddenly burst into brilliant action as Kevin Crouthers made a superb break and as the keen Batley defence converged on him he slipped a perfect one handed pass to the supporting Ian Preece who, in turn, released Danny Maun - but the pass was forward.

Hobson charged over the wet pitch to gain many yards with a crashing run and there was another fine tackle by the industrious Luke Haigh on John Gallagher.

With Lindsey prominent for the Bulldogs, Francis Maloney and Dean Lawford began to dominate for the Rams.

On 15 minutes Kris Lythe crashed over after strong work from Chris Langley and Spears took play to the home line. Ian Gordon converted and the even state of play continued with neither side being able to gain a genuine hold on the game.

David Rourke was getting through a mountain of tackling as the play swept from one end to the other in a fiercely contested and entertaining game.

Forgetting the Winter like conditions, both sides were prepared to throw the ball around and use a wide expansive game as well as short support play.

Spears and Langley handled well to create a chance for Alex Clemmie but a superb Alex Bretherton cover tackle save the day for the Rams.

Maun was almost over as for a good 10 minutes Dewsbury turned the screw to submit the Bulldogs defence to a pounding.

Lee Close was almost in at the corner and Andrew Bostock was proving a real handful with his pace and power.

Lawford broke brilliantly and flung out a wide pass to Maun who beat his man and as Lindsey slipped when approaching his tackle the Rams centre leaped over in the style of Eric Batten from days gone by to make it 6-4.

On the stroke of half time, Crouthers crashed over near the corner from another close-in play the ball as the Bulldogs defence went to sleep and the try was converted superbly by Francis Maloney from the touchline.

Batley lost the ball from the second half kick off and Dewsbury set up another fierce attack that ended up with that excellent stand off Francis Maloney dummying his way over for an unconverted try.

He and Lawford were now completely dominating the midfield and although Langley made a brave run upfield the Rams were gaining control. Bostock was having a strong game and although now trailing Batley were hanging on grimly to their rivals.

In the 66th minute Hobson was held on the Batley line but swift handling by Lawford had Bostock tearing through to put Maun over by the flag and Maloney added another magnificent conversion.

Brave Batley continued to attack and Gallagher led the way on several charges. They had a 'try' disallowed when Stokes hacked on but his leg hit the touchline as he slid over.

The Rams had the final say when Maloney found himself on the end of some more quick handling to dummy in for his second try of the game.