Eagles lose to 12-man Dewsbury

13/02/2022

Sheffield Eagles were unable to make their numerical advantage count this afternoon as Dewsbury Rams came out on top 12-10 at the Tetley’s Stadium. 

Mark Aston named an unchanged team from the one that beat Bradford Bulls in round two of the Betfred Championship.

Dewsbury were coming into the contest after consecutive defeats to start their campaign. 

The Rams held a 6-0 lead at half-time thanks to a try from Brad Graham and Matty Beharrell penalty. 

Half-time - Dewsbury Rams 6-0 Sheffield Eagles

Paul Sykes and Reiss Butterworth were given a yellow and red card respectively inside the first ten minutes of the second half, temporarily giving Sheffield a two-man advantage. 

Both looked like similar offences, which meant there was notable outrage from the home fans when the red card was shown to the Rams hooker. 

Despite there being a numerical advantage for the Eagles, it almost seemed like the controversy worked in Dewsbury’s favour as the locals were riled up and their players rose to the challenge. 

It took until the final quarter for the visitors’ first points of the contest with Liam Johnson scoring his second try of the year, in similar fashion to last week’s effort as he supported an Anthony Thackeray run to the defensive line. Izaac Farrell couldn’t convert. 

With ten minutes to go, Sheffield got their first lead of the afternoon with Thackeray assisting another score. Kris Welham touched down from a scrum play and Farrell was able to convert on this occasion. 

However, there was to be another twist in the tale and unfortunately for the Eagles it was to go the way of Dewsbury. 

Sykes dabbed a grubber behind the Eagles defence for Adam Ryder to collect and touch down. 

Beharrell’s conversion would prove to be the difference between the sides by the end of the game. 

Full-time - Dewsbury Rams 12-10 Sheffield Eagles

Another Heavy Woollen side await the Eagles next weekend as Aston’s men travel to the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium to face Batley Bulldogs.

By Dan Fowler, photo by Alex Coleman