Rams sting Hornets with strong display

Dewsbury Rams produced a stunning first half display, which set the platform for a 38-6 victory at Rochdale Hornets in Monday's Betfred Championship clash.
Paul SykesPaul Sykes
Paul Sykes

Dewsbury ran in six unanswered first half tries as they produced some exhibition rugby to cut Rochdale open.

Rams took the lead when Paul Sykes produced a beautifully weighted kick to the left and Dale Morton outjumped his opposite number to score.

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Rochdale had a scrum on half way but dropped the ball and James Glover was first to react, scooping it up and racing away for a try which Sykes converted.

Then Sykes produced a lovely pass for Rob Worrincy to force his way over and Sykes added an excellent conversion from wide out. Rochdale had Gary Middlehurst sin-binned for a high tackle and from the resulting penalty Aaron Brown crashed over, with Sykes again converting and with Rochdale still down to 12 men, Brown pounced for his second try.

Dewsbury capped a magnificent first half with the pick of their seven tries as Worrincy scooped up the ball close to his own line, stepped past a would-be tackler before running wide and racing up the right touchline, outpacing the entire Hornets defence on a terrific 90 metre run to the line as Rams led 32-0 at the break.

If the Rams’ attacking display had earned coach Neil Kelly’s praise in the first half, their defensive effort was equally as impressive after the break as Rochdale piled on the pressure.

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Having soaked it all up, Dewsbury grabbed a 62nd-minute try when Sykes’ lovely pass sent full-back Josh Guzdek racing through to score next to the posts, with Sykes converting, before ex-Ram Luke Adamson scored a late, converted consolation.