Eagles lose tight contest against Dewsbury

05/09/2021

Sheffield Eagles surrendered a two-score half-time lead as they were beaten 20-24 by a determined Dewsbury Rams outfit. 

The hosts were 14-6 up thanks to tries from Tyler Dickinson and the returning Anthony Thackeray, while Izaac Farrell kicked three goals. 

But the Eagles could only muster a Rob Worrincy try, and Farrell conversion, in the second half as Dewsbury claimed the spoils. 

Mark Aston brought Farrell and Thackeray back into the fold after weeks on the sideline through injury. 

Dewsbury started the better of the two sides, winning an early goal-line dropout and showing some defensive steel. 

Alex Smith crossed the whitewash for the first score of the afternoon, with Liam Finn converting. 

Dickinson responded on 23 minutes with a powerful effort from close range. Farrell’s conversion levelled matters at 6-6. 

A great move put the Eagles into the lead as Farrell stepped through the Rams defensive line before passing on to Josh Guzdek, who had Thackeray on his shoulder in support. The scrum-half did the rest before his half-back partner converted from the tee. 

The final points of the half also went to Farrell as he opted to take the two with a minute to go. 

Half-time - Sheffield Eagles 14-6 Dewsbury Rams

Sheffield were sluggish to say the least as they came out of the blocks for the second half. 

In similar fashion to the first half, Dewsbury won a goal-line dropout and scored from the following set. Keenen Tomlinson had enough strength to get the ball down despite the attention of a couple of Eagles defenders. Finn added the extras. 

Jordan Schofield put Dewsbury ahead just shy of the hour mark as he received a pass close to the sticks and went over untouched. Finn converted for 14-18. 

With the hosts looking for their first points of the half, Thackeray put in a cross-field kick for a number of Eagles to contest but Andy Gabriel rose highest and streaked to the other end of the pitch. A Finn conversion all but sealed the win, although Sheffield did get that try they were seeking. 

Worrincy profited from a cut-out ball from Guzdek to score in the corner. Farrell converted but it proved mere consolation. 

Full-time - Sheffield Eagles 20-24 Dewsbury Rams

By Dan Fowler, photo by Alex Coleman