DEWSBURY RAMS 14 - Bradford Bulls 30
By Chris Osbaldeston

If any of us needed proof of the gap that exists between Super League, and NL 1, this game provided it in abundance. Despite fielding a side made up largely of Academy players, along with a sprinkling of players with Super League experience, including full back Dave Halley, Fijian winger Semi Tadulala, and prop Matt James, the Bulls always looked to be in control of this one.

The opening fifteen minutes were pretty even though, with both sides having spells on the attack. Indeed once the Rams had ridden the initial storm they went close to a couple of tries. Richard Chapman being held on his back after getting over the line, and Bryn Powell going close before the Bulls showed their class. Picking up a loose ball only yards from their own line, they cut through the centre of the Rams defence in a move that ended with centre Richard Johnson racing in under the posts, and Luke Helliwell adding the conversion, 0 - 6.

Ten minutes later they were over again, Halley racing some 60 metres before being hauled down. The ball was switched right where centre Crookes slipped out the pass that enabled winger Kilroy to squeeze over in the corner. Helliwell added a fine conversion and the Rams were suddenly down by twelve.

The pattern continued with the Bulls dominating on both defence and attack, and when Rams replacement Gary North received a laughable ten minutes in the bin for holding down, a difficult task turned into a near impossible one. A difficult situation got even worse when both Dean Lawford and Andy Bostock had to leave the field with injuries. Though they managed to hold out for a while, two late tries went to the Bulls who finished off the half with some style.

First Dave Halley's interception saw him race 90 yards to go in under the posts, and late in the half Garside's kick bounced awkwardly for the defence allowing replacement Shackleton to touch down, Helliwell adding the extras to both tries. Half time arrived with the score a worrying 0 - 24.

Whatever Andy Kelly said to his charges at half time seemed to work as the second half was a much closer contest. First Austin Buchanan's kick ahead ran dead, but Luke Haigh fared better a few minutes later, being first to react to Josh Weeden's kick through. Liam Finn converted and the Rams were on the scoreboard at last. 6 - 24.

Now it was the Bulls turn to defend, a task they carried out efficiently, denying Bryn Powell, Jon Gledhill and David Clayton with some determined tackling. It was 68 minutes before Richard Chapman's superb 40 - 20 set up the Rams second try, the hooker also providing the pass for Powell to go over in the corner. 10 - 24.

The Bulls responded with a try of their own, replacement hooker Flanagan going over and centre Johnson adding the conversion. 10 - 30. Still the Rams had time to come back, with stand off Weeden going over for the try and Finn's goal on the whistle ending the game at 16 - 30.

Overall it was a decent second half performance, though the damage was already done by that time. A more worrying fact from the Rams point of view was the injuries suffered by Bostock, Lawford and Alex Bretherton that brought back the bad memories of last season. That and the fact that a slightly stronger Bulls side was beaten 40 - 0 by the Wildcats last night.

 

Dewsbury Rams:- David Clayton: Bryn Powell; Andy Bostock; Jon Gledhill; Tom Colleran; Josh Weeden; Dean Lawford; Aaron Trinder; Richard Chapman; Dominic Maloney; Martin Robinson; Alex Bretherton; Liam Finn. Subs:- Luke Haigh; Liam Crawley; Jake Wilson; Pat Walker; Luke Brody; Gary North; Austin Buchanan.

Bradford Bulls :- Dave Halley; Eddie Kilroy; Jason Crooks; Richard Johnson; Semi Tadulala; Luke Helliwell; Danny Garside; Neil Cherryholme; Keal Carlile; Matt James; Nathan Armitage; Chris Clarke; Jode Sherriffe. Subs:- George Flanagan; Okare Strameheir; Dominic Dee; Steve Crowley; Kieron Hube; Jamie Shepherd; Vinny Flanagan; Dwain Nelson; Elliot Whitehead; Keith Shackleton; Nigel Scott.