Halifax 22 Dewsbury Rams 24: Impressive Rams pile on the agony for struggling hosts

Richard Marshall’s side, who have now lost six games on the bounce, led 6-0 and 16-10 before being overhauled by the visitors, who owed their success to two second-half touchdowns and some desperate defending.

It was Halifax who took a 10th-minute lead when full-back Miles Greenwood slipped over in the corner, centre Nick Rawsthorne adding the conversion.

But the Rams moved ahead with two quick tries around the 20-minute mark. Centre Etu Uaisele got the first with a powerful charge to the right corner, with half-back Andy Kain picking off a 60-metre interception a couple of minutes later and Paul Sykes kicking the Rams into a 10-6 lead.

The home side regained a slender advantage 10 minutes later when captain Scott Murrell kicked ahead and regathered the rebound off the post to score, Rawsthorne making it 12-10.

They moved 16-10 ahead at the interval when back rower Dane Manning scored on the left.

Dewsbury regained the lead after half-time through a simple try from Tony Tonks, converted by Tom Hemingway.

Leading 22-16, the Rams then established an eight-point lead through a Hemingway penalty with 25 minutes just remaining on the clock.

Halifax closed to within two points at 24-22 when Jacob Fairbank stepped through under the posts, Rawsthorne converting, but despite plenty of late pressure that was as close as they got.

Halifax: Greenwood; Saltonstall, Rawsthorne, Heaton, Sharp; G. Moore, Murrell; Cahalane, B. Moore, Boyle, Manning, Tangata, Fairbank. Substitutes: Bennion, A. Robinson, C. Robinson, Barber

Dewsbury Rams: Guzdek; Morton, Sykes, Crookes, Uaisele; Speakman, Kain; Stringer, Hemingway, Trout, Hale, Walshaw, Brown. Substitutes: Spicer, Tonks, Glover, Teanby

Referee: M. Woodhead.