Rams close in on top-four with victory

Luke Adamson and Tom Hemingway look to wrap up a run by Doncasters Brett Waller last Sunday.

half-time but denied Doncaster further scoring chances as Glenn Morrison’s men recorded a fifth victory and are one of four teams locked on 10 points in the Kingstone Press Championship.

It took the Rams just four minutes to break the deadlock when Ryan Hepworth drove them into a good position before impressive stand-off Aaron Brown sent Joel Farrell crashing over for the try.

Tom Hemingway converted and the Rams appeared to be up and running.

Anthony Thackeray stormed through the Dons defence from Dewsbury’s next attack before Kieran Hyde sent Dale Morton racing over as the Rams led 10-0 inside eight minutes.

Doncaster were gifted a way back into the game when Jason Crookes fielded a Dave Nicklas kick to the in-goal area but as he attempted to get out of danger, he popped a pass up which was gleefully accepted by home winger Sam Doherty to score.

Stewart Sanderson converted and was also on hand to improve Mike Emmett’s try minutes later as Doncaster edged 12-10 ahead after 20 minutes.

The Rams twice looked to have regained the lead as Thackeray latched onto Brown’s pass only to be denied by a last ditch Sanderson tackle.

Brown then broke only to drop the ball as a glorious chance went begging.

Brown made amends soon after when he intercepted a pass and raced the length of the field to score in the corner.

Hyde was unable to convert and the full-back was also denied a scoring chance late in the first half as the Rams held a slender 14-12 interval lead.

Dewsbury withstood an early spell of Doncaster pressure in the second half before Thackeray was again instrumental in sending Scott Hale charging to the line.

Again there was no conversion but Dewsbury had some breathing space.

The visitors grabbed the match-clinching try after 66 minutes when Dalton Grant was taken out off the ball and the resulting peanlty put them on attack.

A dangerous kick caused panic in the Dons defence and Crookes pounced to score, with Hemingway converting to complete a confidence boosting victory ahead of the Rams’ Challenge Cup trip to Hunslet.