Swinton Lions 18 Dewsbury Rams 20 - Rams end three-game losing run with narrow victory

The Rams returned to winning ways with a narrow victory over Swinton Lions on Monday night.

The fixture was moved to Monday evening to accommodate the return of supporters, with Government restrictions allowing fans back through the turnstiles in limited capacities.

Dewsbury have now won three and lost three of their opening six league games with victory at the Lions bringing an end to a three-game losing run.

“It is probably like most of the other teams, we have been inconsistent,” reflected Greenwood.

“Even though Featherstone and Toulouse are at the top and have won their games, there has been a lot of inconsistency in there.

“It is the quality of the players that shines through, that is why they have won every game. Every side has performed well for one half or well one week and awful the next.

“It is not just us, it is every team. The teams that get out of that the best and find the consistency in their performances will probably do alright.”

Dewsbury took the lead after four minutes in Swinton as Andy Gabriel produced a brilliant finish in the corner.

The lead was doubled 10 minutes later through Michael Knowles before Keenan Tomlinson added a third try on 18 minutes.

Paul Sykes kicked a penalty goal to give Dewsbury a 16-point lead at the break.

The hosts responded well after the break. Mitch Cox got Swinton’s first points of the evening with a try eight minutes into the second half.

Sykes kicked two penalty goals in the final quarter which proved decisive as Billy Brickhill scored twice in the final 10 minutes but Dewsbury held on.

“The first 30 to 35 minutes were really good. Everyone individually and collectively was really good,” added Greenwood.

“We were dominant and that showed on the scoreboard as well. Then, a couple of times towards the end of the first half we forced the issue too much.

“In the second half, we were just way off. We didn’t do the things we did well in the first half and left ourselves under pressure at the end.

“Swinton are a really good side when throwing the ball around and they are really hard to defend against.

“We defended really well for the amount of possession we had. It is frustrating the way we just changed from being in control to the total opposite.”

Swinton Lions: Doyle, Roberts, Cox, Rizzelli, Butt, Ridyard, Hansen, Brooks, Waterworth, Luckley, Lloyd, Meadows, Hope. Substitutes: Jones, Brickhill, Brogan, Spencer.

Dewsbury Rams: Fleming, Gabriel, Ryder, McComb, Oakes, Sykes, Finn, Kirby, Day, Garratt, Walton, Knowles, Tomlinson. Substitutes: Martin, Butterworth, Hall, Annakin.