Thackeray’s brace completes Doncaster double for Dewsbury

Anthony Thackeray’s brace led the way for the Rams as they got back to winning ways and moved up to fifth in the Championship.

Chances were few and far between early on. Nev Morrison had a try chalked off for a forward pass from Liam Cunningham in the build-up and Tom Hemingway kicked two 40/20s for the Rams to no avail.

Dave Scott knocked over a penalty from under the sticks to put the away side ahead.

Their lead was short-lived, though, as Thackeray scored a brilliant individual try just three minutes later. The scrum-half sold a dummy on the halfway line to break through the Doncaster defence and dive over in the right-hand corner.

The Rams’ advantage was extended just before the break by another impressive solo effort.

This time it was Thackeray’s half-back partner Kyle Briggs, on loan from Featherstone Rovers, who tricked the opposition with a clever feint straight from a scrum before darting over.

Six minutes after the interval the hosts widened the gap when Callan Becket crashed over for an instinctive try. Hemingway was successful with the conversion on the third time of asking to put his side 14-2 ahead.

The away side took advantage of the extra man and eventually got their only try of the game. Prop Liam Watts, borrowed from Super League club Hull FC, forced his way over from close range on the hour mark.

The game was wrapped up by star performer Thackeray with five minutes to go. After Makali Aizue had got the Rams close with a driving run, Thackeray spotted a gap and stretched to touch down before Hemingway’s second goal of the afternoon made the score 24-8.

Dewsbury: Pryce, Morton, Beckett, Grady, Buchanan, Briggs, Thackeray, Dowes, Hemingway, Aizue, Hepworth, Hale, Murphy. Substitutes: Hyde, Nash, Spicer, Haggerty.

Doncaster: Scott, Morrison, Cunningham, Welham, Sanderson, Cooke, Miller, Carbutt, Kesik, Watts, Colburn, Starling, Snitch. Substitutes: Spiers, Spaven, Wilson, Kelly.

Referee: G Hewer (RFL).