Hemingway on target as Dewsbury earn victory

Dewsbury were forced to come from behind as Haven took a 10th minute lead when Brett Seymour fed Scott McAvoy, who raced away and stepped past full-back Karl Pryce to score. Seymour pulled his conversion wide.

The introduction of Aaron Brown gave the Rams impetus and they went ahead thanks to a fine individual try from Dalton Grant, before Brown fed Anthony Thackeray for a try, to give Tom Hemingway a simple conversion.

Thackeray slotted over a drop goal soon after, stretching the Rams’ lead to 11-4 before Whitehaven struck back with Phil Joseph putting Declan Hulme over. Seymour was again wide with his conversion attempt.

Whitehaven went ahead with a 48th-minute try from Joe Parker.

Danny Craven took over the kicking duties but was unable to add the goal.

Dewsbury regained the lead when Thackeray kicked towards the line on the last tackle and the ball bounced up for Rob Spicer to gather and touch down.

Four minutes later, the Rams had breathing space as Thackeray fed Luke Adamson for a debut try. Hemingway converted both tries.

Craig Calvert replied for the visitors, but crucially, Craven missed Whitehaven’s fourth conversion of the game.

Dewsbury Rams: Pryce; Morton, Crookes, Grady, Grant; Wildie, Thackeray; Haggarty, Hemingway, Hepworth, Spicer, Hale, L Adamson. Substitutes: Brown, Farrell, T Adamson, Aizue.

Whitehaven: Craven; Burns, Hulme, Parker, Calvert; Brocklebank, Seymour; Fox, Newton, Lauluai, Aiyre, McAvoy, Allen. Substitutes: Davies, Hepi, Coyle, Joseph.

Referee: J Cobb (RFL).