Rugby League: Dewsbury Rams 27 - 32 Rochdale Hornets

Despite struggling to get their strongest team out on the field due to injury woes, Rochdale Hornets raided the Rams as they stole the points off Dewsbury.

Hornets started the brighter of the two sides, and had the lead after just eight minutes when Whittaker pounced on a wild Dewsbury pass to race 50 metres to score. He converted his own effort to open up a six-point lead.

There was an immediate response, as Cameron Scott benefitted from Gareth Moore’s cut-out ball to race over on the left edge. James Glover was off target with his conversion attempt, meaning the Rams trailed by two.

After back-to-back penalties, Whittaker drilled a penalty goal through the middle of the posts from 40 metres out to give Hornets a four point cushion.

Dewsbury took the lead for the first time in the contest when Aaron Brown collected Dom Speakman’s dummy half cut-out pass to touch down next to the sticks. Glover stepped up to make it 10-8.

Seta Tala ensured Hornets regained the lead and took it into the break though, as he stormed over from close range with a number of defenders on his back. Whittaker’s two pointer took Hornets into half time with a four point lead.

It was a disastrous start to the second half for Hornets; Speakman edging Dewsbury back in front with a scoot from close range, before Josh Guzdek crossed untouched to give the Rams an eight point lead.

Hornets needed a response, and they got one from Tala when he scored his second of the afternoon, crossing off the back of a perfectly delayed pass from Smith.

Matty Hadden scored for the second time in as many games, planting the ball down over the line despite being held upright. Whittaker’s goal gave Hornets a four point lead.

The drama of the final five minutes was almost too much to take, as the Rams thought they had won it thanks to Moore’s individual effort which saw him race in on the left edge. Glover needed the conversion for a two point lead, however the touch judges couldn’t agree on whether it had gone in between the posts or not.

The referee had the final say and the conversion wasn’t given, leaving the scores tied at 26-26.

That was until Moore knocked over a one-pointer just a minute later, sending the home supporters into celebration.

Hornets had to throw everything at their opponents, and after Whittaker’s field goal attempt was charged down, a repeat set ended in Dec Kay dancing through the defence to plant the ball down and spark incredible scenes behind the posts and in the stands.

Dewsbury’s last roll of the dice saw them spill the short kick off, and Hornets saw out the remainder of the game to cling on to a crucial two points.

Dewsbury Rams: 1 Josh Guzdek, 2 Rob Worrincy, 3 James Glover, 31 Cameron Scott, 5 Dale Morton, 12 Michael Knowles, 7 Gareth Moore, 17 Toby Everett, 9 Robbie Ward, 10 Jack Teanby, 20 Jordan Crowther, 11 Rob Spicer, 13 Aaron Brown.
Interchange: 8 Jode Sheriffe, 14 Dom Speakman,27 James Goodall, 28 Kyle Trout.
Tries: Scott (12), Brown (32), Speakman (44), Guzdek (49), Moore (74)
Goals: Glover 3/5
Field Goal: Moore (76)

Rochdale Hornets: Dec Kay, Richard Lepori, Earl Hurst, Seta Tala, Deon Cross, Tyler Whittaker, Danny Yates, Lewis Hatton, Morgan Smith, Blake Turner, Lee Mitchell, Gary Middlehurst, Billy Brickhill.
Interchange: Jonah Cunningham, Matty Hadden, Pat Moran, Alex Gaskell.
Tries: Whittaker (8), Tala (38, 56), Hadden (64), Kay (79)
Goals: Whittaker 6/6