Leigh 33 Dewsbury Rams 22: Dewsbury fightback falls short against Centurions

KNOCKED OUT: Dewsbury Rams' coach Glenn Morrison.

A win for the Rams would have made it an all Yorkshire affair in the Grand Final at Headingley next week, but they were overpowered by this season’s table-toppers.

Glenn Morrison’s men were caught cold, with Ryan Brierley feeding winger Adam Higson, who span away from a couple of challenges to cross in the corner.

It was the same combination who helped the hosts to their second score, with Brierley’s chip into the corner collected and touched down by Higson.

The Rams almost pulled off a shock win at Leigh earlier in the year, losing to two late tries in a 30-22 loss, and threatened to go one better when Anthony Thackeray scored a superb try.

After Michael Platt had made it three tries to one for the home side, Dewsbury conceded three avoidable points on the stroke of half-time.

First, Karl Pryce gave away a needless penalty, blocking the path of Tom Armstrong, which Ridyard converted. The Leigh stand-off then knocked over a drop goal just after the hooter had sounded.

Though they were 21-6 down, Dewsbury showed no signs of giving up, and put the game right back in the balance with two quickfire scores.

Ben Hellewell made the most of a huge overlap to get the Rams’ second-half up and running.

Then, Joel Farrell smashed his way over the line to a rapturous reception from visiting fans.

That try made it a five-point game, but unfortunately for Morrison’s troops, they couldn’t maintain their charge.

Greg McNally and Higson added two in quick succession, and though Dale Morton’s superb chase and try put the Rams back in contention, a late Ridyard penalty put the game beyond the reach of Dewsbury.

Leigh: McNally, Higson, Platt, Armstrong, Kay, Ridyard, Brierley, Emmitt, Beswick, Wilkes, Sarsfield, Haggerty, Barlow. Substitutes: Penkywicz, Walker, Bate, Acton.

Dewsbury: Pryce, Morton, Hellewell, Grady, Wood, Hyde, Thackeray, Haggerty, Hemingway, Hepworth, Spicer, Hale, Murphy. Substitutes: Wright, Aizue, Farrell, Gallagher.

Referee: M Thomason (RFL).