RAMS CASH IN ON 'DOGS HANGOVER

DEWSBURY RAMS 36-16 BATLEY BULLDOGS

Co-operative Championship, Tetley's Stadium, 25 July 2010

Following last Sunday's heroics in Blackpool, the Bulldogs faithful were this afternoon reminded of the sharp up and down inclines experienced when supporting the men from Mount Pleasant.  No doubt tired of listening to the string of plaudits bestowed on their local rivals over the past seven days, the Dewsbury Rams comprehensively dismantled Karl Harrison's side with, at times, embarrassing ease.  The home side's 36-16 success all but ensures the Rams' Championship safety, but leaves the 'Dogs play-off hopes hanging by a spider's web of a thread.

Although the first half was relatively even, and the Bulldogs may have even felt aggrieved being behind at the break, after the interval the Rams completely dominated proceedings.  Dominic Brambani was in imperious form, harking back to his best days at the Eagles, kicking his team down and across the park with unerring accuracy and rattling up twenty personal points which made him a shoe-in for man of the match.  Brambani was ably supported by the impressive Luke Blake, who looked dangerous and inventive all afternoon as he got plenty of possession time behind his pack. 

The match referee, Mr Drizza also had a significant hand in the result; on 37 minutes, with the game on a knife-edge with the Bulldogs leading 10-8, he controversially awarded a home scrum after a Dewsbury player appeared to have batted the ball into touch.  Brambani went in at the corner from the base of the resulting scrum, and indiscipline from the visitors three minutes later on the stroke of half-time allowed Craven to hare the length of the left flank despite the efforts of Craig Potter to push the Rams into a 16-10 interval lead.

Earlier, the scoring had been a bit tit-for-tat.  The first points weren't registered until the 14th minute when a stray slap on Rob Spicer resulted in a penalty and Brambani elected to take the two on offer to edge Dewsbury in front.  Six minutes later, the Bulldogs hit back when Paul Handforth broke well and good support play from Johnny Campbell and Kris Lythe worked ball out to the left for Josh Griffin to crash over to make it 4-2 after Moore had missed the extras.

Back came the Rams on 26 minutes when good interplay in front of the posts allowed Brambani to cross and convert his own try to make it 8-4, but the home side's lead was short lived as Handforth and Mick Govin combined three minutes later to send Toohey in at the corner and Moore's conversion edged the 'Dogs 10-8 ahead as a prelude to their collapse as the interval approached.

HALF-TIME: DEWSBURY RAMS 16-10 BATLEY BULLDOGS

If the visiting faithful had placed their hopes on Karl Harrison's interval team-talk improving the Bulldogs fortunes, they were to be bitterly and quickly disappointed as the home side bossed after the break.  The half was just over a minute old when the Rams were awarded a penalty for interference and Brambani's kick made it 18-10.  Indiscipline became a theme of the half for the visitors as they were monotonously penalised by Mr Drizza and three minutes later, another penalty resulted in Brambani creating the opportunity for Batley old boy Luke Stenchion to go in under the sticks.  Brambani's extras made the score 24-10.

On 51 minutes, Brambani was given another opportunity to slot over two points after yet another penalty conceded by the 'Dogs and things took a considerable turn for the worse two minutes later when Alex Brown made a hash of Brambani's bomb, slipping in the process allowing Bryn Powell to go in at the corner to give the Rams a twenty-point cushion.

With the Bulldogs continually turning over possession, with Griffin and Jason Walton the main culprits, Dewsbury gradually turned the screws further.  A high shot on Luke Blake on 62 minutes gave Brambani another easy two points and although the Bulldogs briefly rallied on 74 minutes when Handforth darted in from close range (converted by Moore), it was left to James Craven to have the final word a minute from time as he darted through a dissolving 'Dogs defence to cap the win.

The relief for the home fans at the hooter was palpable.  Safety all but assured now, and bragging rights secured until Boxing Day at the Mount.  For the 'Dogs fans, it was a sharp return to the realities of being a Batley supporter, but defeat seems a little easier than usual when you have a pot in the cupboard back at the Mount boardroom! 

DEWSBURY RAMS: 42 Craven, 15 Powell, 17 Bretherton, 10 Turner, 16 Buchanan, 13 Walker, 8 Brambani, 23 Hirst, 37 Blake, 24 England, 20 Spicer, 25 Lockwood, 40 Barber.  Interchange: 9 Emmett, 14 Stenchion, 31 Tonks, 34 Flowers.

T: Brambani 2, Craven 2, Stenchion, Powell

G: Brambani 6

BATLEY BULLDOGS: 5 Campbell, 24 Brown, 22 Griffin, 12 Toohey, 1 Preece, 6 Handforth, 7 Moore, 8 Smith, 9 Lythe, 10 Hesketh, 26 Walton, 23 Buttery, 13 Lindsay.  Interchange: 11 T. Gallagher, 17 Potter, 20 Tootill, 33 Govin.

T: Griffin, Toohey, Handforth

G: Moore 2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 2-0, 2-4, 8-4, 8-10, 12-10, 16-10, HALF, 18-10, 24-10, 26-10, 30-10, 32-10, 32-16, 36-16

REFEREE: M Drizza (France)

ATTENDANCE: 1,935

MAN OF THE MATCH: Dominic Brambani (Dewsbury Rams)