Betfred Championship R3: Dewsbury vs Sheffield Preview

12/02/2022

Sheffield Eagles will be aiming for back-to-back wins in the Betfred Championship when they travel to the Tetley’s Stadium to face Dewsbury Rams.

The Eagles make the journey back to West Yorkshire after beating Bradford Bulls 14-28.

Sheffield blitzed the Bulls in the second half after they were kept to a single score at the half-time break - Liam Johnson’s converted effort levelled up the score after Kieran Gill’s opener for the hosts.

John Kear’s side kickstarted the scoring in the second forty through Rhys Evans before Mark Aston’s side hit the Bulls with three tries in 10 minutes to secure the all-important points.

After the Evans try, former Bradford players Vila Halafihi and Ross Oakes both struck gold on their returns to Odsal.

Eagles skipper Anthony Thackeray sealed the victory with his second try in as many matches, either side of penalty goals from Izaac Farrell who kicked 6/6 in the terrible West Yorkshire conditions.

Dewsbury suffered their second defeat of the season last time out, losing out at York’s LNER Community Stadium.

The Rams opened the scoring after 12 minutes, through a Matty Berherrel penalty goal but Matty Marsh’s try gave the City Knights a half-time lead.

The hosts impressed after the interval, keeping Lee Greenwood’s side to their two points registered by the former Doncaster man Berherrel.

York provided four second-half tries to take the points; Jamie Ellis, Sam Davis, Brendan O’Hagan all touched down before Chris Clarkson’s effort in the final minute of play.

Key Battle - Joel Farrell | Elliot Minchella

The key battle this week comes in the form of Joel Farrell vs Elliot Minchella.

Farrell was back to his best last week, igniting a strong left side connection with Ross Oakes and Jason Bass throughout the Odsal win.

The second-rower was named vice-captain at the start of the season, assisting Anthony Thackeray in his last year of rugby league.

Farrell will know he needs to keep his cool and is expected to receive some treatment from the Rams players as the former Batley and Dewsbury man makes a return to Crown Flatt.

The hosts welcome former Eagles forward Elliot Minchella into their squad for this weekend’s clash.

The Hull KR vice-captain is stepping up his recovery after he suffered an ACL injury last April whilst turning out for the Robins and joins the Rams on dual registration.

Sheffield fans know all about Minchella and his qualities thanks to his work in Red and Gold in 2016 and 2017.

Minchella continued to impress at boyhood club Bradford Bulls after he departed the Eagles, the second-rower scored 45 tries in 59 appearances for the Bulls before his move to Super League.

By Lewis Coleman, graphic by Alex Coleman