Posted on Monday, 07 April 2008 04:55PM by

There’s nothing quite like summer rugby they tell us, though as the snowstorms came sweeping across Spotland yesterday, I’ll reserve judgement on that statement for the time being. I guess the game was exciting enough for the few neutrals, or non-committed fans present yesterday, only I’m neither of those things. I’m a South-Stander and proud to be so. I felt the pain of yesterdays defeat almost as strongly as the players (and here I stress the word ‘almost’), because believe me, everyone felt it yesterday. On the other hand, the defeat against Rochdale was history the moment referee Robert Hicks blew the whistle for full time. The future is what matters now, and in our case that means Thursday’s league game against the Bulldogs. Our largely self inflicted problems began as early as the 3rd minute, knocking on right in front of our posts and then watching Hornets centre Carl Sneyd cut through to score before adding the conversion to his own try. For the next 20 minutes or so the play was end to end. Both sides had their chances but neither seemed able to take what chances came their way. Knock ons, fumbled passes and the like, this game had them in abundance, and still the snow came tumbling down. In the end it was Liam Finn who broke the deadlock, driving over to score from close range. Pat Walker added the conversion and for all of 4 minutes the Rams were back on level terms. Two quick tries from stand off Martin Ainscough soon changed that though. Both came from close range, and both exposed the fragility of our defence close to the try line. With Sneyd adding both conversions we were suddenly 18 – 6 down and struggling. One thing I will say about the Rams of recent years is that they don’t generally give up easy, and today was no exception. With time running out Austin Buchanan collected a cross kick to score a much needed try. Patch Walker added the conversion and the half ended with the Rams 18 – 12 behind. It could have been a lot worse. As if our injury situation wasn’t bad enough already, the 2nd play of the 2nd half saw David Rourke leaving the field with a broken nose. Until then David had been playing as well as anyone and his departure was a blow. Even so we got the half under way in much better style and within ten minutes we were in the lead. First Tom Colleran, in at full back for the injured Mark Field went over on the left, and then Liam Finn broke down the middle before angling right and winning the race to the line. Pat Walker converted both and the Rams found themselves 24 – 18 ahead. The pendulum seemed to be swinging our way, and it took a quality try from Hornets’ full back Eric Andrews to reverse the momentum. Bursting out of defence on the far side of the field he beat man after man before going over to score a try that even had the Rams fans applauding. Okay, our defence might have been poor, but that try took some scoring. It lit up a cold and wet afternoon, and we needed some reason to warm our hands. Sneyd’s conversion levelled the scores at 24 apiece, but now the Hornets were buzzing. A few minutes later, Sneyd kicked an easy penalty to edge them back into the lead and the Rams seemed to panic slightly. 5 minutes later loose forward Wayne Corcoran gathered in a cross kick to score on the right and Sneyd’s goal stretched the lead a little more. Right away, a blatant trip on the last tackle gave Hornets field position from which hooker Jimmy Elston forced his way over to score. Sneyd added the goal and with time running out we were back in trouble at 38 – 24. A NL 2 side had just put 20 unanswered points past us just when we seemed to be taking charge of the game. Then came the obligatory fight back, courtesy of two late tries from Austin Buchanan, though once again it proved to be too little and too late. It was fun while it lasted, and for a few moments it even gave the fans hope of an unlikely victory, but personally I’d rather see these late surges launched from a more comfortable position. Say 14 points in front rather than 14 behind. Pat Walker added the conversions, narrowing the gap to 38 – 36 and, despite a frantic final few seconds, that’s the way it stayed. Special mentions go to Pat Walker and Carl Sneyd. The conditions were hardly favourable, and yet neither of them missed a kick all afternoon. Liam Finn put in another great effort, and Austin Buchanan almost snatched the game out of the fire. To be honest though we got exactly what we deserved today… and that was nothing! The weather was atrocious throughout, but it was the same for both sides, and yet again we seemed to lack both a cutting edge in attack and determination in defence. Strangely enough though, I’m not all that worried. The Northern Rail Cup has been a bit of a distraction to be honest, now maybe we can concentrate on what this season is really about – making the NL 1 play offs. Maybe I’m being overly optimistic, but I really believe we can do that. Several players will be back for the game against Batley, and I sensed a quiet determination in the players I spoke to after the game. Be scared you Bulldogs… be very scared. The Rams are beginning to wake up at last! Teams. Dewsbury Rams :- Tom Colleran; Gary North; Chris Langley; Andrew Bostock; Austin Buchanan; Patrick Walker; Liam Finn; Aaron Trinder; Luke Haigh; Joe Helme; Martin Robinson; Alex Bretherton; Ryan Glynn. Subs :- David Rourke; Liam Crawley; Dominic Maloney; Jake Wilson . Rochdale Hornets :- Eric Andrews; Alex Brown; Carl Sneyd; Chris Spurr; Chris Campbell; Martin Ainscough; Chris Foster; David Newton; Jimmy Elston; Craig Robinson; Craig Farrimond; Ian Sinfield; Wayne Corcoran. Subs :- David Cunliffe; David Best; Mike Callan; Andrew Marsh. Referee :- Mr. Robert Hicks. Attendance :- 482 Man of the Match :- Carl Sneyd