Rugby League: Eaton drives Dewsbury to big pay day

Dewsbury 31 Lancashire Lynx 14

FIRST DIVISION Dewsbury have the daunting task of facing Wigan in the next round of the Silk Cup Challenge Cup after beating their Second Division opponents at the second attempt last night.

Inside the first minute, Paul Evans split the Lancashire defence with a powerful burst, Leon Williamson was in support and Matthew Bramald scored. With Barry Eaton converting and soon adding a penalty for back-chat, Dewsbury seemed well on their way. The Lynx battled back, however, and Andy Ruane, forced his way over.

Lancashire were conceding too many penalties and, from one of them, Eaton put Dewsbury further ahead before Shayne Williams consolidated the home side's lead. Then Eaton, with his 400th point for the club, edged them further in front at half-time.

Another strong run from Williams produced another Dewsbury try, this time from the supporting Matthew Long. Lancashire managed to frustrate Dewsbury's next wave of attacks sufficiently to persuade their player- coach, Neil Kelly, to settle for one point from a drop goal.

Lancashire also recorded a second try when Bramald dropped Ruane's kick and Neil Parsley scored in the corner.

It was too late, though, for any thought of taking Wigan to Deepdale, with the man of the match Eaton adding his seventh goal and Adrian Flynn going in for Dewsbury's final try.

Jason Pekepo scored a consolation effort for the plucky Lynx in the last minute, but Dewsbury were already circulating their ticket prices for the lucrative visit of the cup favourites.

Dewsbury: Bramald; Brent, Flynn, Evans, Williamson; Ball, Eaton; Boothroyd, Roche, Rose, Haigh, Williams, N Kelly. Substitutes used: Firth, Moore, Long, McKelvie.

Lancashire Lynx: Allday; Parsley, Finney, Abram, McLoughlin; Jones, C Kelly; Taylor, Ruane, Pekepo, Gee, Briscoe, Solomon. Substitutes used: Burne, Mawdsley, Norton, Donno.

Referee: P Taberner (Wigan).

l Huddersfield, Bolton and Watford have been earmarked as venues for a possible Great Britain Test series against New Zealand in November.