Dewsbury took the spoils 36-24 against Swinton as they held off a late Lions fight back in which full-back Chris Atkin scored his 500th point for his club.
Veteran Paul Sykes gave Dewsbury the lead in the fifth minute following a short pass from Andy Kain and Sykes added the conversion to his own try.
The Lions then had a couple of good chances when Macauley Hallett and Mike Butt both went close but the Rams defence, although stretched, managed to hold out.
Sykes scored the Rams’ second try against the run of play midway through the half, then two more scores came in a four minute period before the break with Joel Farrell and Lucas Walshaw both going over from short range.
The Rams were reduced to twelve men on the stroke of half time when Jason Crookes was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Hallett but they held a commanding lead at the break.
The Lions started the second half well with the forwards matching the home side’s large pack and Jake Emmitt had a solid debut for his new team.
But it was a Rams error that got the Lions on the scoreboard six minutes into the second half when Kain tried to pass to his winger on the right and Hallett intercepted.
He raced half the length of the field to score on the left and Atkin added the conversion points.
Walshaw was placed on report for the Rams on 51 minutes for an alleged shoulder charge on Connor Dwyer who had to leave the field with a head injury which could put him out for a few weeks.
The Rams scored another try against the run of play when Josh Guzdek passed the posts on the hour and Sykes converted.
A penalty for a high tackle a few minutes later stretched the lead and then Dom Speakman found his way over for a try by the posts.
With just 10 minutes left Josh Barlow crashed over for Swinton by the posts from short range and Atkin converted again.
The fight was really on now, and four minutes later Mike Butt scored a good try.
Atkin kicked the ball for the left corner and Rams winger Dale Morton thought it was going to roll dead, but the Lions winger had other thoughts and chased it down to touch it down as it was about to run over the dead ball line.
The final try came with a minute left.
The Rams were on the attack in the Swinton half when Rhodri Lloyd intercepted a pass and raced 80 metres to score on the left.
Atkin added the conversion just before the final hooter sounded to claim his club milestone.
Main image: © Dewsbury Rams
