Brambani to fore as Rams storm to win

South Wales Scorpions 6

THE Rams produced a solid and professional display to destroy the Welsh side in the third round of the Challenge Cup at Neath.

The home team had no answer to the strength of the Rams pack, led by the likes of Anthony England, Rob Spicer and Keegan Hirst. The big men created ample space for scrum-half Dominic Brambani to operate and he moved the team around the pitch in great style.

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The Rams showed their ruthless streak in a flying start which saw them race into a 22-0 lead after 20 minutes to have the game firmly wrapped up. There were some slightly sloppy moments for a time but then their fitness and strength told in the last quarter as they added five further tries to finish with 11 for the day.

Brambani added nine goals from 11 attempts and his two tries saw him finish with 30 points.

The Rams might have scored in the first minute when England swept between the posts only to be recalled for a forward pass. They took the lead two minutes later as Spicer popped up to take the ball on the burst and sweep over. Brambani added the goal.

The Rams kept up the good work, looking much the sharper against a side playing their first game of the season – and the first Challenge Cup tie in their history. The speedy James Craven came into the line and created the overlap to give Austin Buchanan a clear run to the line.

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England got the try he deserved after good work by Jordan Tansey and the fourth Dewsbury try came in the 20th minute when Elliot Cosgrove cut through in style for his first try for the club. Brambani added two of the goals and the Rams were coasting.

To their credit the Scorpions showed spirit and made more of a game of it and Dewsbury had some near-misses before grabbing two more tries just on the break. Strong pressure saw Johnny Horton and Cosgrove almost score before swift handling sent Buchanan again over unmarked. There was still time for Horton to take full advantage of an overlap for his first try for the Rams. A Brambani goal made it 32-0 at the break.

The Rams did not start the second half with the same intensity as they had the first and were caught napping when home stand-off Andrew Gay chipped over and followed up to score a neat try, Lewis Reece added the goal.

Soon after the Scorpions had centre Christian Roets sin-binned for a late tackle and in his absence the Rams added two tries.

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First Scott Turner timed his run well to force his way over, then straight from the restart Dewsbury stormed back and Hirst blasted his way in. Brambani took time off from organising things to slice through and score and Luke Menzies charged over for a typical no-nonsense try.

Things were rounded off as Brambani again spotted a gap and showed good pace for his second touchdown. He also added all the goals to the five second half tries.

The warning for the Rams is that coach Warren Jowitt still feels they can do better. He said he was happy with a professional performance overall but still feels the side must cut out some of their basic errors and tighten their discipline. However, 11 tries gives cause for satisfaction.

South Wales Scorpions: Reece; Lock, Bateman, Roets, Cunningham; Gay, Bromilow; H Davies, Burnell, Dallimore, Wildbore, Greville, James. Subs: Parry, Phillips, C Davies, Carter.

Dewsbury Rams: Craven; Wainwright, Cosgrove, Turner, Buchanan; Tansey, Brambani; England, Blake, Hirst, Spicer, Lockwood, Tonks. Subs: Horton, Menzies, Hayes, Emblem.

Referee: Jamie Leahy. Att: 356.