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Dewsbury v York City Knights: Rams looking to repeat last season’s Challenge Cup heroics

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Dale Ferguson’s men entertain York City Knights[2] in the third round of the Challenge Cup at FLAIR Stadium on Sunday, February 11 (kick off 2pm), where they will be searching for a much-needed victory.

Defeats in the group stage of the 1895 Cup against Keighley Cougars and Bradford Bulls[3] to kick start 2024 means the Challenge Cup is now the only source of competitive games for the Rams until their first Championship fixture, against Liam Finn’s Halifax Panthers[4], on Sunday, March 17.

Under Finn, Dewsbury[5] had a memorable run in last season’s Challenge Cup, where they entered at the second round stage with the other League 1 teams and convincingly beat amateur outfit Ashton Bears 38-8.

Dewsbury Rams lost 40-4 to Bradford Bulls in their 1895 Cup group stage clash at the FLAIR Stadium. (Photo credit: Thomas Fynn)Dewsbury Rams lost 40-4 to Bradford Bulls in their 1895 Cup group stage clash at the FLAIR Stadium. (Photo credit: Thomas Fynn)
Dewsbury Rams lost 40-4 to Bradford Bulls in their 1895 Cup group stage clash at the FLAIR Stadium. (Photo credit: Thomas Fynn)

They then got past Rochdale Hornets 38-18 to set up an enticing fourth round clash with Widnes of the Championship.

Backed by a strong crowd, the Rams put on a superb display to run out 32-12 winners against John Kear’s men thanks to tries from Lewis Carr, Ollie Greensmith and Ronan Dixon, as well as a double from the exceptional Reiss Butterworth, who got a deserved move to Hull KR, and the Super League, at the end of the season.

This meant Dewsbury were one victory away from the 1895 Cup semi-finals and 160 minutes away from a return to Wembley for a first major final since 1929.

But, despite giving them a mighty scare, the Rams were beaten 36-16 by London Broncos[6], who would go on to secure a place in Super League through the Championship play-offs.

Dewsbury Rams lost 40-4 to Bradford Bulls in their 1895 Cup group stage clash at the FLAIR Stadium. (Photo credit: Thomas Fynn).Dewsbury Rams lost 40-4 to Bradford Bulls in their 1895 Cup group stage clash at the FLAIR Stadium. (Photo credit: Thomas Fynn).
Dewsbury Rams lost 40-4 to Bradford Bulls in their 1895 Cup group stage clash at the FLAIR Stadium. (Photo credit: Thomas Fynn).

London’s journey in the Challenge Cup, however, was halted at the very next stage by the Rams’ opponents this Sunday, York.

West Yorkshire derby defeat sees Rams’ 1895 Cup campaign end at group stage

[7]

The Knights had already thrashed West Bowling, 52-12, edged past Sheffield Eagles, 24-22, and defeated Newcastle Thunder, 22-18, to make the last-16, and Olly Butterworth’s debut hat-trick secured an impressive 36-12 victory over the Broncos.

York’s Challenge Cup adventure ended at the hands of the eventual winners, Leigh Leopards, while both York and London exited from the 1895 Cup semi-finals after being defeated by Batley Bulldogs and Halifax Panthers respectively.

The Knights are also in prime position to qualify for this season’s 1895 Cup knockout stages. Despite losing last Sunday at home to highly-fancied Wakefield, 40-4, their 114-10 hammering of Newcastle Thunder the week before should be enough to cement their status as the best placed runners-up across the seven groups.

References

  1. ^ Visit Shots! now (www.shotstv.com)
  2. ^ York City Knights (www.dewsburyreporter.co.uk)
  3. ^ Bradford Bulls (www.dewsburyreporter.co.uk)
  4. ^ Halifax Panthers (www.dewsburyreporter.co.uk)
  5. ^ Dewsbury (www.dewsburyreporter.co.uk)
  6. ^ London Broncos (www.dewsburyreporter.co.uk)
  7. ^

Police Reports / Reference Library

Everything John Askey said on Emmanuel Dieseruvwe’s injury as Hartlepool United suffer major setback

Hartlepool United will face an anxious wait to discover the extent of a potentially ‘serious’ injury to star striker Emmanuel Dieseruvwe suffered in the 4-4 draw with Wealdstone.

Emmanuel Dieseruvwe went off injured for Hartlepool United in the draw with WealdstoneEmmanuel Dieseruvwe went off injured for Hartlepool United in the draw with Wealdstone
Emmanuel Dieseruvwe went off injured for Hartlepool United in the draw with Wealdstone

Dieseruvwe was taken off midway through the second half of a pulsating contest at Grosvenor Vale[1] where John Askey’s side came from 3-0 down to rescue an unlikely point in the most dramatic of circumstances.

Dieseruvwe has been Hartlepool’s main man this season after a summer switch from FC Halifax Town[2]. The striker has thrived under Askey with 15 goals to already eclipse last season’s total with the Shaymen. And although the striker was not on the scoresheet against Wealdstone[3], he played a key role in Hartlepool’s fightback when he was involved in Callum Cooke’s goal before assisting Joe Grey for Pools’ second.

But Dieseruvwe could be seen in some discomfort when twisting his knee midway through the second half before being withdrawn. The striker tried to run off the problem on the sideline before he was replaced by Josh Umerah, who went on to score Hartlepool’s third of the game, with Askey hinting it could be bad news for Hartlepool with a potentially serious injury to their talisman.

Hartlepool United will be hoping Josh Umerah can rediscover his form in the absence of Emmanuel Dieseruvwe. Picture by FRANK REIDHartlepool United will be hoping Josh Umerah can rediscover his form in the absence of Emmanuel Dieseruvwe. Picture by FRANK REID
Hartlepool United will be hoping Josh Umerah can rediscover his form in the absence of Emmanuel Dieseruvwe. Picture by FRANK REID

“Mani has gone down and it looks quite serious. He’s obviously the last one we wanted to go down and get injured,” said Askey.

“It’s his knee, there’s a lot of give in it. Potentially it could be a huge blow to us – he’s been the main man since the start of the season.

“I think I’m at that stage now [with injuries] where I’m just starting to accept things and we just have to keep battling and keep fighting.”

Wealdstone 4-4 Hartlepool United player ratings gallery: ‘Disappointing’ 4 and ‘…

[4]

With Dieseruvwe set to potentially miss a number of weeks it means there will be an added pressure on Umerah to rediscover his form from last season after joining from Wealdstone. Umerah found the net 15 times in his debut campaign with Pools last year which resulted in plenty of interest in his services over the summer after the club was relegated to the National League.

Pools held firm in their stance over Umerah to keep hold of him but things have not gone accordingly this season with the striker struggling for form as he has found himself behind Dieseruvwe from the off despite a goal on the opening day at Barnet.

But the return to his former stomping ground brought out the kind of display supporters are more used to with Umerah, as his battling endeavour was rewarded with a second goal of the season, with the hope now being the 26-year-old can kick on and take over the goalscoring burden in Dieseruvwe’s likely absence.

“Hopefully Josh will step up to the mark and show what he can do,” said Askey.

“Look back at last year and Josh was the main man, so the fact we’ve got Josh and he scored again can hopefully get his season going for us. It might take something like Mani getting injured to see the best of Josh.”

References

  1. ^ a pulsating contest at Grosvenor Vale (www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk)
  2. ^ FC Halifax Town (www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk)
  3. ^ Wealdstone (www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk)
  4. ^