Rams bidding to clip Eagles wings

The Rams suffered only their third Co-operative Championship defeat when they lost 50-22 at leaders Halifax on a day when too many players did not hit top form.

Jowitt said: “It’s hard to put a finger on why we did not perform and I am just putting it down to a bad day at the office.

“There were too many players who were not firing. Maybe it was the big effort we put in against Keighley the week before that backfired a little on us.

“Perhaps we put too much pressure on ourselves and were thinking about going top, rather than the job of winning the game, but you could look for as many excuses as you want, you are not going to change it.

“The lads were hurting after the game. They knew they hadn’t performed and I’m sure they will be ready to rectify that tonight.”

Jowitt was particularly pleased with the display of second row Rob Spicer, while Ryan Esders, Austin Buchanan and James Craven also showed up well.

Leeds Rhinos dual registration players Liam Hood and Brad Singleton continue to settle in and they also did well at Halifax and both got on the scoresheet.

Although Patch Walker and Scott Spaven have formed an excellent half-back partnership this season, they were out of sorts at Halifax and one option open to Jowitt for tonight’s clash would be to bring Cain Southernwood back.

Dewsbury’s defeat last week saw them drop to fifth in the Championship but just two points separate Batley, in second place, from Sheffield in sixth, so they will move back up the table with victory in South Yorkshire.

Sheffield ground out a hard-fought 25-18 win at York last week and one player the Dewsbury will be well aware of is scrum-half Dominic Brambani, who was voted the Rams supporters’ club player-of-the-year and scored a vital try for the Eagles last Sunday.

The Eagles could also hand a debut to utility back Jack Latus after they signed him from Leeds Carnegie RU Club last week.

Latus signed for Leeds RU having had spells in league with Hull KR and Harlequins and he was 18th man for Sheffield in last week’s win over York.

There will be no supporters’ club coach going to Sheffield tonight.