DEWSBURY coach Warren Jowitt is demanding a big improvement as the Rams seek their first Co-operative Championship win of the season, against high-scoring Featherstone Rovers at Tetley’s Stadium on Sunday (3pm).

Jowitt stressed: “Standards are high at Dewsbury, we know if we can get things right we are a match for anyone. Featherstone are a good side, scoring plenty of points but this is the level at which we have to compete.

“There will be no long bus journey this time and no tired players, so there will be no excuses. We need to win to get the league season moving.”

Jowitt wasn’t completely happy with the Rams’ performance over the spirited amateurs of Drighlington in the Challenge Cup last Sunday and was quick to point out that the Rams had only a 50 per cent completion rate in the first half.

He remarked: “It doesn’t matter who you play, you couldn’t beat a team of schoolboys losing so much ball but in the second half the completion rate was 91 per cent and we only made two handling errors.

“The lads were like bears with sore heads after the game because everyone knew they could have done better and the players were frustrated with their performance. We have to work through that for the Championship. But when you are playing so badly and still scoring plenty of points, you are doing something right.”

The Rams are feeling the effects of a hectic spell and still lack several players through injury, although the overall picture is brightening.

Jowitt said: “At the outset I tried to build a squad with plenty of depth to it but that depth has been stretched in the past few weeks. At least Lee Lingard is ready to play after his knee operation but James Haynes has been outstanding. He has one or two points in his game we need to work on but he is looking a very good player. This is the sort of competition I was seeking.”

Alex Bretherton has been told by the specialist that the course of injections on his knee has been successful. He will still have a camera inserted to check the strength of the damage but things are much more positive. Jowitt said: “The news has put a smile on his face and he could be back within three weeks.”

Back row man Rob Spicer could also be back in that time and with Austin Buchanan making progress, the injury situation is not quite as bleak.

Last week’s Northern Rail Cup game against Leigh gave the Rams’ boss chance to look at some of the fringe players. Despite the defeat, which was no surprise in view of the French weekend and the weakened side, he was well pleased with the former of such as Alistair McMaster, Stewart Sanderson and Andy Moody, while Ryan Smith at stand-off and Paul Hughes did themselves no harm.

Featherstone will be a major threat. They overwhelmed a weakened Hunslet side 68-0 in the Northern Rail Cup last Thursday and on Sunday hammered Workington 74-0 in the Challenge Cup.