Halifax RLFC kept the pressure on Kingstone Press Championship leaders Sheffield Eagles with a 35-16 success at West Yorkshire rivals Dewsbury Rams.

It was sweet revenge for head coach Karl Harrison’s side, who were knocked out of the Northern Rail Cup by the Rams at the Tetley’s Stadium earlier in the season.

However, more pressing for Harrison and his side was to ensure that they picked up the points to stay hard on the heels of leaders Sheffield, who had extended their advantage at the top on Thursday night when they were 14-8 winners at Batley.

Halifax were in no mood for wasting time and raced into the lead and managed to maintain their momentum to half-time when they led 28-4.

A try from Ryan Fieldhouse set things rolling and further touchdowns from Ross Divorty, who went over twice, Lee Paterson and Wayne Reittie, plus four Ste Tyrer goals, put Halifax in control, while Dale Morton replied with a try for Dewsbury.

In the second half an Andy Bracek try, another Tyrer goal and a drop goal from Scott Murrell were enough to stave off a Rams challenge that brought tries for Adam O’Brien and Kieran Hyde and two goals from half-back Bobbie Goulding.

Dewsbury: Pryce; Morton, Watkinson, Scott, Finigan; Hyde, Goulding; Nash, Bentley, Hepworth, Walshaw, Hale, Gallagher. Replacements: O’Brien, Tonks, Jones, Lillycrop

Halifax: Fieldhouse; Paterson, Tyrer, Heaton, Reittie; Murrell, Thackery; Tonks, Handforth, Bracek, Manning, Divorty, C. Ashall. Replacements: K Ashall, Ambler, Robinson, Adamson

Referee: Warren Turley

Kingstone Press Championship review – Page 33