Dewsbury Rams 30 - 46 Leigh Centurions

Match report by Ossy

All successful clubs in this game need two things, a good team on the pitch and a noisy, enthusiastic fan base on the terraces. The Rams have both. Okay so we lost by 16 points, but even the Leythers would agree that this was a cracker of a game, the second between the clubs this season, and we've still got the League games to go.

Make no mistake, Leigh are a decent side and we ran them close today which in my eyes makes us one too. Particularly taking into account the fact that 8 of our accepted first team squad were missing due to injury today.

The first ten minutes were end to end as the sides tested each other out. It was like playing a third half to the earlier RL Cup game and we were 10 minutes in before the Rams opened the scoring. The ball was moving left before Kevin Crouthers stepped back inside and went over, Liam Finn converting.

Further Rams pressure almost saw them over again on the right, but Leigh came straight back on 20 mins. A break down the middle by loose forward Stewart was finished off with a neat inside pass that sent full back Greenwood in under the posts, Couturier's goal levelling the scores. Leigh were beginning to settle; now it was the Rams under under pressure and making mistakes. On 27 minutes, scrum half Heremaia went in unchallenged under the posts, Couturier adding the points again. 5 mins later they were in again, Heremaia working the gap to send Taylor over. Couturier's third goal stretching their lead to 6 -18.

With halftime looming the rams struck back. Ignoring an almost certain two points for a penalty, they opted for the tap and Bryn Powell squeezed in at the corner. Liam Finn's touchline conversion narrowing the gap to 12 18 as the half time whistle sounded.

Any thoughts of a Rams comeback received a succession of blows in the first 10 mins of the second half. A combination of attacking flair from the Centurions, and some ineffective tackling from the Rams, (a problem that has plagued them at times this season), saw Leigh run in three tries from Roberts, Ainscough and Wilson. With Couturier tagging on all three conversions, their lead stretched out to 12 - 36 with half an hour left to play.

Only this Rams side has character as well as no little ability. They weren't done yet, and the fans in the South Stand began to warm to their task. First it was Ian Preece going over on the left, Finn's conversion signalling that the fightback was under way. 7 mins later, Rob Kelly was first to get to a smart kick through and Finn's conversion narrowed the gap still further.

Now it was Leigh on the back foot, and 5 mins later the move of the game sent Powell clear on the right. When the cover got across, Pat Walker was in support on the inside to go over. Finn converted, the gap was down to 6 points and the Rams were, well, on the Rampage I suppose. Still the game continued to ebb and flow. Rams were almost over again on the left but, with 5 mins on the clock, a break by Styles put Alstead over on the left for the deciding try. Right on the whistle, the Centurions added their final try from Heremaia, goaled by Couturier and they progress into the next round with a 46 - 30 scoreline that flattered them slightly.

It was a cracking game, and the younger element in the Rams line up acquitted themselves well. In fact the whole team, along with 'Andy Kelly's barmy army', acquitted themselves well. Two teams who took risks to play fast, open football, and two sets of supporters who never stopped shouting made this a game I'll remember for weeks. Thanks to all concerned.

Rams: Ian Preece, Bryn Powell, Pat Walker, Ryan Glynn, Lee Close, Josh Weeden, Dean Lawford, Andy Hobson, Luke Haigh, Dominic Maloney, Kevin Crouthers, Martin Robinson, Liam Finn. Subs: John Oakes, Rob Kelly, Liam Crawley, David Bates