Eagles secure 7th after Ram raid

15/09/2022

Sheffield Eagles confirmed a seventh-placed finish in the 2022 Betfred Championship following a 34-24 win over Dewsbury Rams at the Olympic Legacy Park. 

It wasn’t straightforward for the hosts as they had 11 men for parts of the final quarter after sin-binnings for Brandon Douglas and Joel Farrell. However, they had enough to get over the line against a spirited Rams side who only named 16 men in their squad. 

Ryan Johnson opened the scoring after five minutes, the outside back carrying on a great run of form which has seen him win multiple Sheffield Eagles Supporters Association Man of the Match votes. Tom Holmes couldn’t convert. 

The Rams hit back with two tries in the space of three minutes, the first from Dale Ferguson before Jordan Schofield crossed the whitewash. Calum Turner converted both, with Dewsbury now 4-12 to the good. 

Fresh from signing a new one-year contract, Kris Welham got his first score of the afternoon as he finished a nice move to the right hand side. Holmes converted to reduce the arrears further. 

The Eagles went into the interval with their noses in front thanks to Evan Hodgson’s second try of the year. Douglas made the break and Hodgson was there in support. Holmes added the extras. 

Half-time - Sheffield Eagles 16-12 Dewsbury Rams

Sheffield looked like they were going to run away with the contest as they started the second half with two quick tries. 

Welham got his second of the night as he got on the end of a Holmes grubber before the half-back was on hand to assist another score, this one for Farrell who burst on to a pass to go over. Holmes converted both. 

Michael Knowles kept things interesting for the Rams in his final game for the club. He touched down, Turner converted, and the difference was now ten points between the sides.

Douglas and Farrell’s yellow cards - for dissent and a high tackle respectively - followed and with five minutes to go, Robson Stevens scored for the visitors to make it a one-score game. Turner converted for 28-24. 

But on the hooter, Sheffield could wipe the sweat from their brow as Bayley Liu forced his way over the whitewash against his former side. Holmes converted. 

Full-time - Sheffield Eagles 34-24 Dewsbury Rams

By Dan Fowler, photo by Alex Coleman