REPORT | Sheffield Eagles 42-30 Dewsbury Rams
29/06/2026
The Eagles made it back-to-back Betfred Championship victories on Sunday afternoon with a 42-30 win over Dewsbury Rams.
Craig Lingard’s side ran in seven tries at the MEPS International Home of Football Stadium, recovering from an early deficit before pulling away in the second half to round off June with another important victory.
Following last weekend’s emphatic home win over Whitehaven, Lingard named an unchanged starting XIII for the visit of Dewsbury. The only alteration came on the interchange bench, where Harry Bowes returned from suspension in place of Lewis Peachey.
Dewsbury arrived looking to bounce back after surrendering a 28-0 lead in their previous outing against Barrow, eventually losing in dramatic fashion at the Northern Competitions Stadium.
Having spoken before the game about the need for a fast start, Lingard saw his side respond in the perfect fashion. Connor Bower powered over for his third try in as many appearances to hand the Eagles an early advantage.
The visitors hit back through winger Liam Copland, but Sheffield quickly restored their lead when Joe Brown crossed for the first of his two tries on the afternoon.
Dewsbury responded once again as Luke Nelmes forced his way over to level the scores, before fellow winger Thomas Delaney finished out wide to edge the visitors in front.
Greg Eden grabbed his third try in Sheffield colours just before the break to make it 18-18, but a fortuitous score from Jacob Hookem on the half-time hooter gave Dewsbury a narrow 24-18 lead at the interval.
The contest swung dramatically after the restart as the Eagles produced a devastating spell, scoring four tries in just 12 minutes to seize complete control.
George Griffin powered over for his fifth try of the season to level the scores, before Brown claimed his second of the afternoon to restore Sheffield's lead.
Reiss Butterworth then capitalised on a Dewsbury error, pouncing on a loose ball to score under the posts against his former club. Moments later, Alex Foster crashed over for the Eagles' seventh try, extending the advantage before the hour mark.
Bailey O'Connor crossed late on for Dewsbury, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation as the Eagles comfortably saw out a deserved 42-30 victory.
The Eagles now head into a two-week break before returning to Betfred Championship action on Sunday 12 July, when they travel to the CorpAcq Stadium to face Salford in Round 19 (3pm kick-off).
Sheffield Eagles: Eden, Brown, Oakes, Gill, Walkley, Morgan, Abdull, Broadbent, Johnson, Reilly, Bower, Foster, Griffin
Interchanges (all used): Hodson, Bussey, Butterworth, Bowes
18th Man: Ellis
Tries: Bower (4’), Brown (12’, 47’), Eden (37’), Griffin (44’), Butterworth (51’), Foster (56’)
Goals: Morgan (7/7)
Dewsbury Rams: O’Connor, Coplan, Carr, Senior, Delaney, Coates, Hookem, Nelmes, Souter, Collinson, Bateman, Graham, Addy
Interchanges (all used): Lumb, Roberts, Algar, Tomlinson
18th man: Rayner
Tries: Coplan (7’), Nelmes (21’), Delaney (28’), Hookem (40’), O’Connor (78’)
Goals: Hookem (5/5)
Referee: R. Cox
Attendance: 565
