Maurice Bamford reports from Tetley’s Stadium

Last updated 16:54, Monday, 04 August 2008

Dewsbury Rams 18 Whitehaven 16: Nobody could have envisaged such a turn around in fortunes as this spectacular and ultra exciting battle at Tetley’s Stadium.

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Ade Adebisi

The home team in a spiral of defeats staring relegation in the face and Whitehaven cock a-hoop after recent wins over Salford and Halifax.

The visitors started strongly with Edmundson, McDonald and Miller giving tough defence in mid field.

But it was Liam Finn who opened the scoring for the Rams on seven minutes when he managed to ground the ball by the flag for an unconverted try.

Scott McAvoy replied soon after when he was given a chance after great cross field passing allowed the centre to beat both Austin Buchanan and Chris Hall to dive over for an unconverted try.

The experienced Leroy Joe and Tane Manehari were controlling the game without managing to score points.

Buchanan saved Dewsbury on several occasions using his pace to great advantage. Twice he kicked into dead ball a split second before Ade Adebisi and Craig Calvert, arrived saving certain scores.

McAvoy had one fine break and 50-metre run before being over-hauled by Buchanan once again.

Whitehaven ‘s tough pack could not master Dominic Maloney who relished this set to. His charging runs into the heart of Whitehaven’s defence and his rock hard defence when the visitors looked dangerous laid the foundations for this brave performance by Dewsbury.

Joe sent Whitehaven in with a half time lead when he kicked brilliantly to the corner for Calvert to show speed and courage to get the touch down, Manehari converting superbly from the touchline.

With his first touch of the ball, Scott Teare blitzed through on a mighty 60-metre run, by passing the Rams full back, Ryan Glynn, only to be denied a sensational try by that man Buchanan who raced back to nail the big forward short of the line.

Dewsbury pulled level with a crowd pleasing try when five men handled to send Kane Epati crashing over with Adebisi clinging onto him, Pat Walker converting from the side line.

A Maloney run set up a Tere Glassir strong close in try and Pat Walkers goal made it 16-10 to the Rams. Walker then added a penalty goal to give that extra security to the Rams lead.

It took a real bell ringer of a tackle to shake Haven out of their siesta when Maloney halted a Mallinson run with a brick wall tackle.

They realised that they were facing defeat at the hands of the bottom team in the ladder.

With Edmundson, Gorski and Miller in the van, the Haven pack took play to the Dewsbury quarter and Manehari kicked a pin point corner punt which evaded the desperate home defence and the speedy Adebisi was over in a flash for Manehari td add a monstrous conversion from the touch line.

Both sides had chances to score in the final minutes of this exciting game but the Rams held on for a terrific win.

MATCH FACTS

Teams - Dewsbury Rams: Glynn, Powell, Epati, Hall, Buchanan, Pat Walker, Finn, James Walker, Haigh, Maloney, Glassie, Bostock, Crawley, Greenwood, Wilson, Trinder, Cook

Whitehaven: Broadbent, Adebisi, Rob Jackson, McAvoy, Calvert, Manihera, Joe, Edmondson, Mattinson, McDonald, Hill, Miller, Makisi, Patrick, Gorski, Teare, Mark Jackson.

Dewsbury - Tries: Finn, Epati, Glassie. Goals: Pat Walker 3

Whitehaven - Tries: McAvoy, Calvert, Adebisi. Goals: Manehari 2

Referee: Paul Carr

Attendance: 524

Star Man: Graeme Mattinson