Match Report: Newcastle Thunder v Dewsbury Rams Betfred Championship Round 3

Dewsbury Rams produced a second half comeback built on physicality as their winning start to the league continued in a high-scoring encounter at Newcastle where discipline proved costly.

Dewsbury started fast against Newcastle Thunder. The Rams used Luke Nelmes well to carry and bring the Thunder defenders in. Jack McShane scored early which was converted by Hookem to give Dewsbury a deserved 6-0 lead.

Newcastle Thunder’s discipline was costing them as Dewsbury won penalties due to indiscipline. They won a penalty and chose to kick to take a deserved 0-8 lead.

Newcastle Thunder fought back with a well-worked Cody Hunter try following a break from Andy Djeukessi. Dewsbury had Daniel Coates yellow carded for a high tackle. Thunder capitalised as Jordan Lipp’s miss pass found Djuekessi for an acrobatic finish in the corner. This was followed by Cody Hunter putting Brad Ward over. At this point both teams’ discipline was counting against them with a high penalty count.

Dewsbury were next to hit back in a see-saw first half when Jacob Parkinson darted under the posts to score. Jamie Gill was used really effectively by Dewsbury in the build up and throughout the game as his powerful carrying caused the Thunder defence no end of problems. The final score of the half was from Sean Croston who went over after Dewsbury felt Thunder had lost the ball the half time score was 20-14.

Thunder came out in the second half and looked the more dominant team as they scored a try through Brenden Santi whose power brushed a defender off as he went over for a deserved try. This was followed up by a Miles Harrison field goal to take Thunder’s lead to 28-14 and it seemed a long way back for Dewsbury.

But Dewsbury rallied and put Thunder under huge pressure. The pressure was forcing repeat sets and penalties. That pressure told in the 58th minute when Louis Collinson charged through the Thunder defence to score. Hookem converted to take the score to 28-20.

By this stage, it was all Dewsbury in the game; a mixture of Dewsbury pressure, Thunder indiscipline and a lack of energy in the Thunder ranks had completely turned this game. This led to Brad Graham getting on the end of a Dan Coates pass to score, Hookem converted again and the score was 28-26 going into the last quarter.

By this point in the game, Dewsbury were relentless in their attack with the physicality taking its toll on the Thunder defence and they were making ground in every carry. The big moment of the

game came when Nelmes powered over from short range and Hookem converted into the last ten minutes to take it to 28-32.

Thunder attacked, they had an opportunity but were pulled back for obstruction as they attacked the Dewsbury line. It was Dewsbury who got their deserved last try of the game when star man Jack McShane went over on the hooter, Hookem converted to give Dewsbury a well deserved victory.