Halifax 28 Dewsbury Rams 8: Halifax prevail while Rams woes continue

The home side took a sixth-minute lead through back-row Stanley Gene, who backed up a fine midfield break from another import, scrum-half Ben Black.

Lee Paterson kicked the conversion for a 6-0 lead, but with the Rams suffocating the home side's creativity with some determined defence, it was no real surprise when they scored next, centre Ayden Faal slipping a brilliant pass to veteran wing Bryn Powell, who scraped past the cover to score by the flag.

Stand-off Ed Barber kicked the conversion for 6-6 and that was how it stayed until just before half-time when Halifax full-back Shad Royston was sin-binned for a professional foul on Liam Bretherton and Barber gave the visitors an 8-6 lead.

But despite the visitors' numerical advantage, it was the home side who regained the lead on 45 minutes when Black scored from a brilliant cross-kick by half-back partner Luke Branighan.

Paterson added the conversion, and when back-rower Stephen Bannister scored on 54 minutes, with Paterson again on target, the Rams had a struggle on their hands at 18-8. Black then scored a second to make it 22-8 before a late try from Jon Goddard, converted by Paterson, rounded off a scrappy victory.

Halifax: Royston; Paterson, Goddard, Haley, Worrincy; Branighan, Black; Larder, Beswick, Ostick, Nash, Bannister, Gene. Substitutes: Gleeson, Tamghart, Watene, White

Dewsbury Rams: Sanderson; Powell, Bretherton, Faal, Turner; Barber, Brambani; Lockwood, Blake, J. Walker, Spicer, Bostock, P. Walker. Substitutes: Emmett, Buchanan, Hirst, England

Referee: C Halloran (RFL).