Dewsbury Rams 18 Sheffield Eagles 30: Yere leads way as Eagles chalk up 14th successive league win

Sheffield Eagles recorded their 14th straight league victory to maintain pole position at the top of the league with victory over Dewsbury Rams who moved back into the play-off places with a valuable bonus point.
Menzie YereMenzie Yere
Menzie Yere

Three first-half tries opened up a commanding lead for Sheffield as Menzie Yere, Joe Hirst and Peter Green all registered their name on the score sheet with a try apiece as Dominic Brambani had a hand in all three scores as well as adding three conversions for an 18-0 lead.

Sheffield’s defence continued to dominate and the Rams only first-half points came from a penalty goal on the half-time hooter to ensure they didn’t go in scoreless.

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The Rams were reinvigorated from the half-time break and were much improved in the second half although Vinny Finigan’s solo try extended the lead with Brambani’s goal for Sheffield.

Outstanding winger James Craven grabbed four points back with a try out wide but Cory Aston – coach Mark Aston’s teenage son – soon replied for the visitors and another successful two points from Brambani made it 30-6.

With time running out the home side threw caution to the wind and it paid dividends as two late tries in four minutes from Gregg Scott and Karl Pryce, along with two goals from Hyde, ensured the home side’s spirited second-half display was rewarded with the bonus point.

But it was too late for anything else as the Eagles had already done enough to win.

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Eagles’ coach Mark Aston is backing Yere to be in the Papua New Guinea squad for the RL World Cup.

The powerful centre can win games, says Aston who will take charge of Ireland in the competition being played in England and Wales this autumn.

“Can he score a full-length try? Yes. Can he score a try from two yards out? Yes. Menzie can have an impact” said Aston.

“If I was PNG coach I’d be looking at him because when it’s a close game people like him can win it for you.”

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Yere was a star for PNG in the 2008 World Cup and ferocious tackling in the Four Nations three years later earned him the nickname ‘Jukebox’ – because he has all the big hits.

Yere has been with the Eagles since 2009 and faces competition for a place in the PNG squad from players plying their trade in Australia.

“Menzie did enough to get in the squad in 2008 and I think he’s got better,” said Aston

“He’s scoring more tries and he’s playing at a higher level.

“ He’s stronger, more mature,” added Aston.

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Dewsbury Rams: Morton, Craven, Pryce, Beckett, Scott, Brown, Hyde, Hepworth, Bentley, Nash, Watkinson, Hale, Tonks. Substitutes: Tebb, Aizue, Lillycrop, 
Gallagher.

Sheffield Eagles: Laulu-Togagae, Finigan, Yere, Armstrong, Taulapapa, Walker, Brambani, Battye, Davey, Stringer, Knowles, Szostak, Hirst. Substitutes: Aston, Green, Roche, Higgins.

Referee: P Brooke (RFL).

Michael Worrincy scored a first-half hat-trick as London Skolars eased to a 40-18 Championship 1 victory over Hemel Stags.