Fax v Dewsbury: Rams take the points as Gabriel’s second half try proves crucial

Dewsbury Rams took the points in a dour Championship clash at Halifax as a second-half Andy Gabriel try edged them to an 18-16 win at the Shay.

A scrappy contest will be remembered mainly for the first half performance of referee Cameron Worsley, who reduced Fax to 11 men for eight minutes after sin-binning Kevin Larroyer and Ed Barber and then red carded home full back Scott Grix and Rams hooker Dominic Speakman in the moments before half time.

The Rams still only led 6-0 at the break, despite a 10-2 penalty count in their favour, and were 12-6 behind after 49 minutes as two quick tries, both converted by stand-in kicker James Woodburn-Hall, catapulted Fax into a 12-6 lead.

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Scott Murrell got the first, sliding through a huge gap on the left to touchdown, before winger Jodie Broughton, making his home debut, carved through to touchdown on the right.

But a Woodburn-Hall error from the kick off gave the Rams the chance to register an immediate response from Matty Gee, Paul Sykes converting to level the scores at 12-12.

Fax went ahead again on 57 minutes, Murrell and Woodburn-Hall combining to put Broughton over in the corner for a 16-12 advantage as Woodburn-Hall’s sideline kick fell short.

What turned out to be the winning score came out of nothing, the Rams’ former Fax full back Joe Martin kicking the ball into the corner and Woodburn-Hall fumbling horribly for Gabriel to score, Sykes kicking the conversion from the sideline.

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There had been an early hint of what was to come during the course of an extraordinary first half when Dewsbury were awarded a second-minute penalty, which Sykes converted from just the right side of the halfway line to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

Fax suffered a significant injury blow when half back Tom Gilmore limped from the field with a hamstring injury, the former Widnes playmaker slapping the back of the dugout in frustration.

The penalties continued to flow, largely for technical offences, and the count stood at 6-0 to the Rams by the time Sykes kicked his second two-pointer after 14 minutes, with Mr Worsley giving the home side a team warning at the same time.

Seven minutes later, Kevin Larroyer held on a second too long at the ruck and was promptly yellow carded, Sykes kicking his third penalty for a 6-0 lead.

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Barber followed him to the bin on 35 minutes for an alleged trip, before a melee just before the break saw Speakman and Grix sent from the field.

Ultimately though, it was the Rams who claimed the points.

Halifax: Grix; Robinson, Woodburn-Hall, Barber, Broughton; Murrell, Gilmore; Fleming, Carlile, Morris, Garside, Brearley, Larroyer. Subs: Moore, Hirst, Saltonstall, Wilson

Dewsbury: Martin; Gabriel, Ryder, Fleming, Oakes; Sykes, Finn; Morris, Day, Annakin, Esslemont, Knowles, Gee. Subs: Speakman, Johnson, Magrin, Scott

Referee: Cameron Worsley

Attendance: 1,151

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