Rams are undone by robust Eagles

By Andrew Hunt

DEWSBURY Rams were unable to re-produce the form shown against Batley the previous week as they slipped to defeat against a big, robust Sheffield side in the Co-operative Championship last Sunday.

Although Dewsbury were well beaten, they were left to rue two controversial disallowed tries at crucial stages of the encounter.

With the Rams trailing 6-0, substitute Luke Menzies met a ball at pace and barged over next to the posts only for referee Ronnie Laughton to disallow the try for offside.

Sheffield went on to build a 12-4 interval lead but the Rams looked to have hit back in style three minutes after the break.

Menzie Yere leapt to gather a Dominic Brambani kick but as he tried to run away from his own line, Elliot Cosgrove stole the ball in a one-on-one tackle and had a clear run to the try line only for Mr Laughton to penalise him.

Sheffield broke the deadlock with a 17th minute try as they moved the ball quickly right for centre Jason Crooks to force his way over and Steven Brown landed the conversion from wide out.

Dewsbury hit back after 32 minutes when a lovely passing move ended with Austin Buchanan racing in at the corner. Dominic Brambani’s conversion hit the left post and bounced out.

Sheffield responded immediately as giant centre Yere swatted off a defender on his way to scoring wide on the left and Brown tagged on an excellent conversion.

After Cosgrove’s early second half try was also ruled out, Dewsbury were awarded back-to-back penalties and Brambani landed a simple goal.

However, once again Sheffield responded immediately as they created a huge gap for full-back Quentin Laula-Tuqagae to score and Brown converted.

Crooks had the strength to barge over for his second try and although Brambani jinked his way over for a try, which he converted, Sheffield scored two further tries in the final two minutes to complete a convincing win.

Dane McDonald was sent through a gap to score Sheffield’s fifth try before Alex Rowe crashed between the posts and Brown added both conversions.

Dewsbury Rans: Wainwright; Smith, Turner, Cosgrove, Buchanan; Blake, Brambani; Hirst, Wandless, Bibb, Spicer, Lockwood, Faal. Subs: Menzies, Horton, Wilson, Emblem.

Sheffield Eagles: Laula-Tuqagae; Finigan, Yere, Crooks, Bergin; Wood, Brown; Howieson, Henderson, Stringer, Szoztak, Green, Hirst. Subs: Rowe, McDonald, Hepworth, Cording.

Referee: Ronnie Laughton (Barnsley).

Attendance: 1,010.

n Dewsbury Rams Reserves gained their fourth win of the season when they won 44-30 at Sheffield.

Tries came from Darrell Olpherts (two), Ryan Glynn (two), James Craven, Jake Shaw, Sam Wright and Scott Glassell. Glynn added six goals.