Dewsbury Rams 36 - 34 Leigh Centurions

Match report by Ossy.

Nice day, excellent game, always close, good crowd and the right result. Isn't that what the game's all about?

I don't think any of us expected a game like this, swinging first one way and then the other. Too many mistakes were made by both sides for it to be called a 'perfect' game, but if you like excitement, tries, a lost cause, a fight back and a missed goal at the death, then this was the game for you. Even Shakespeare at his finest couldn't have scripted it better.

The Rams kept edging in front, though never by more than eight points, and Leigh kept coming right back. Tries from Franny, Alex and Deano, all converted by Franny were matched by tries from Grundy, Alstead and Cookson, plus two conversions, and a penalty from Heremaia saw the sides level, though Franny's penalty on the stroke of half time edged the Rams into a two point lead at 20 - 18.

The second half opened in much the same way. Leigh fumbled a cross kick on the fifth tackle. Chris Hall, making a welcome (and unexpected) first appearance of the season, was the first to react, sending Bostock over out on the right. Again Leigh came right back with a try from Styles, and though the conversion was missed, the scores were level again a few minutes later with a Heremaia penalty. Another Leigh breakaway was halted in front of the posts, only for the ball to be switched left for winger Smith to go over and Leigh were in front 28 -24. Right away, Leigh were back. A break by Heremaia was finished off by Greenwood and goaled by Alstead. Rams were suddenly down 34 - 24, and I guess the crowd felt that was it, at least I did.

But these Rams, and the crowd, are made of sterner stuff these days. The crowd just yelled louder, and the side played harder. So much for the fears that we ran out of steam in the second half. Quick hands saw Weedon go over, Maloney's conversion narrowed the gap to four, and still it wasn't over. A late, late flourish saw Kevin Crouthers go over to level matters with two minutes to go, and Franny's conversion seemed to have nicked it. Right on time though, Leigh were awarded a penalty some 40 yards out that would have levelled matters. But Alstead was kicking uphill, his effort fell short and the Rams go into the next round.

The most exciting game I've watched in ages. Franny got M.O.M. though it could equally have gone to others. Deano looks better with every game, Ryan Glynn at full back did all that was asked of him, Chris Hall was awesome at centre, especially when you consider it was his second game of the weekend. But for me, the forwards deserve special praise. The props kept going forward, Luke Haigh kept the ball moving and tackled like a terrier, but Alex and Kevin have brought a new dimension to the second row this last few games and Josh weighed in with his all round work rate and another try.

This was an excellent performance from the TEAM as a whole. It's the first time I've heard individual players being applauded as they came into the Royal suite, but they deserved it, and the atmosphere was electric. Now all we need is a little luck, and a money spinning tie at the Rams stadium when the draw's made tomorrow. Surely that's not too much to ask?