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Dewsbury Rams 26 - 33 Doncaster Lakers
Match report by Ossy
'A game of two halves' is an
overused phrase in the sporting field, and yet this was the
classic example. It started badly for the Rams, a crossfield
kick standing up perfectly for centre Sherriffe to pluck out
of the air and fall over the line. Four minutes gone and the
Rams were already behind, though Lakers lead lasted only
five minutes. Chris Hall's break was driven on by Keegan
Hirst before Josh went over from acting half back. Francis
Maloney's conversion edging the Rams in front at 6 - 4.
Both sides had chances before the Lakers kick on the fifth
tackle hit the crossbar and was subsequently knocked on, an
error that cost us dear. From the resultant scrum, Penny
crossed on the right, Holroyd added the goal and Rams were
behind again 6 - 10. Back to back penalties from the
Lakers gave the Rams good field
position and a sublime wide pass from Pat Walker gave Bryn
Powell the room to stroll over in the corner on the main
stand side. The goal was missed, but the sides were level.
Not for long though. A dropped pass from the Lakers was
picked up by Josh Weeden close to his own line. He made the
halfway line before being hauled down, but the Lakers
defence was overstretched and a quick play the ball went
right for Francis Maloney to scoot over. Again the goal was
missed, but now the Rams were in front at 14 - 10 and
motoring. Five minutes later, they were on the board again.
A high kick from the Lakers on the fifth tackle held up in
the wind and bounced in the Rams favour. Again Josh was the
man on the spot going clear before sending the supporting
Danny Maun in under the posts. Liam Finn's conversion
extended the Rams lead to 20 - 10 and at this point they
probably deserved it.
Then Josh's
injury. Almost right away most
of the crowd realised it was serious, and in my opinion
could well have changed the course of the game. Shame a few
Lakers fans in the South Stand chose that moment to show
themselves up. Right on half time, a high kick was hacked on
by Liam Finn, and the Lakers were driven back over their own
line and forced to drop out from beneath their posts. The
Rams ran the ball right back at them and Liam Crawley forced
his way over by the posts. Finn's conversion easing them out
to 26 - 10 at half time. Probably a little more than their
first half showing deserved, but I wasn't complaining.
HALF TIME. Rams 26 - Lakers 10.
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There seemed a slightly subdued air about the place as the
second half got under way. The first ten minutes passed
without much action until Lawford slipped through down the
middle only for his inside pass to Maloney to go down. If
Josh's injury was one key point in today's game, that was
another. From that moment on, the Lakers began to play with
belief and the Rams didn't. Weak tackling has been a problem
all season, and it came back to haunt us again on 13 minutes
when Tandy went over by the posts. Holroyd added the
conversion and Donny were back in the game at 26 - 16. The
Rams were nervous, giving away too many penalties and for a
while they seemed unable to get any ball. Even Dean
Lawford's kicking wasn't up to his usual standard. A kick
out on the full gave the Lakers good field position which
they made good use of on 19 mins, Sheriffe going over
unopposed for his second try. 26 - 20, and even AK's barmy
army went quiet.
The Rams weren't able to get their hands on the ball, and on
the few occasions they did, seemed uncertain what to do with
it. Overall we seemed to lack a commanding figure in the
centre of the park at this point. Someone who could take the
game by the scruff of the neck and get the
Rams organised, particularly in
defence. Almost inevitably, scrum half Penny went over on
the fifth tackle when the Rams seemed to be expecting a high
kick. Holroyd's conversion levelled the scores.
How many times have we seen the Rams concede a late score
this season? Too many times I'm afraid, and today it cost us
dear. A penalty from Holroyd edged the Lakers into the lead
on 36 mins, and with the Rams throwing everything at them, a
loose ball was snapped up by Sheriffe who ran the length of
the main stand for the deciding try and his hat trick. Right
on the whistle, Penny's drop goal only rubbed salt into the
wound.
So we lost a game we seemed to have sewn up at halftime, a
game we needed to win. There were mitigating factors, an
unbelievable injury list meant AK had to blood more of the
youngsters than he 'd probably have liked. But the second
half performance was poor. We lacked ideas and leadership on
the pitch and today it cost. The only positives I can see
are the one bonus point, and an experience of NL1 football
for players like Keegan Hirst, Liam Crawley and Pat Walker.
The next three weeks are going to be hard, but we need to
get some points before we come up against the likes of Cas
and Widnes. Unfortunately I'll be in Cornwall next Sunday,
so I'll miss the Rochdale game. Best of luck lads, there's
still a long way to go and we ain't dead yet.
Rams: Ian Preece, Bryn
Powell, Patrick Walker, Chris Hall, Danny Maun, Francis
Maloney, Dean Lawford, Keegan Hirst, Liam Finn, Dominic
Maloney, Kevin Crouthers, Alex Bretherton, Josh Weeden.
Subs: Ryan Glynn, Rob Kelly, Martin Robinson, Liam
Crawley
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