Dalton 58 St Joseph's 10

DALTON started their Pennine League season with 58-10 a demolition job on the Huddersfield side St Joseph’s at Kelland Park, writes PADDY McATEER.

Playing scintillating rugby, Dalton hit their straps on 33 minutes to run in several breathtaking tries leaving Joseph’s unable to cope.

Before that point, the game was evenly poised at 10-10, but the home side ran in 16 points in a seven-minute spell before half-time.

They added a further 22 in the second half – again unanswered, making it 48 points without reply.

It was Joseph’s who looked sharp in the opening minutes as they pressed the Dalton line, and it took five defenders to prevent Oliver Kirk from touching down.

More pressure saw hard-working loose forward Joe Gillespie almost score, but he was tackled on the flag.

Dalton survived, turning defence into attack with good yards gained by Ryan Johnson and Joe Watson, who sent Ross Clayton into space, only for the cover to get back and haul him down.

A second raid came to an end after Joe Smith fed Johnson, but the stand-off’s long ball for Tom Sharp was too high and went into touch.

A counter-attack saw winger Dean Bradshaw head for the corner, only for Clayton to bundle him into touch three yards short.

On 14 minutes the visitors took the lead with an unconverted try from Kirk after good work from Gillespie and impressive scrum half Bradley Neen.

Within three minutes the home side were level. Chris Reid was held under the posts, but the ball moved sharply from the play the ball for Johnson to send Allister McEwan over the line.

This lifted the home side, with Joe Milner going close before a sweeping raid involving Ryan Baines, Johnson and Clayton enabled Harri Brown to skip round his marker and score. Johnson added the goal for 10-4.

Joseph’s soon drew level with a fine try from Neen, who inter-passed with winger Bradshaw and also converted.

This was the signal for Dalton to take control as Baines took the ball upfield, sending McEwan to the line before being tackled. He managed to release the ball and Sharp touched down to make it 14-10.

It was Sharp who soon added a second.

Baines, Johnson and Brown took play from inside their own half before releasing Sharp. He hogged the touchline before cutting inside to score, Johnson tagging on the extra two points.

On the stroke of half-time, Flynn, Baines and Johnson paved the way for McEwan to race over. Johnson’s goal made it 16 points inside seven minutes to close the half at 26-10.

The second half was barely under way when Baines foxed the cover by dummying his way through to cross from 25 yards out. Johnson converted.

There was no way back for the visitors as within four minutes the shell-shocked Huddersfield side were conceding another four points as swift handling across the field saw Baines race over for 36-10.

A rare attack from Josephs saw Richard Ama head for the corner, only for great defending to keep him at bay.

Further points came for the hosts as Reid, Flynn and Baines tore upfield for Watson to score. Johnson’s touchline kick went in off the posts to increase the gap to 42-10.

Dalton were on fire as Reid and Joe Cargan sent Hayes through a gap at pace. When approached by full-back Sam Cummings, he saw Johnson in support to go over and convert.

Hayes brought up the half-century by touching down after brilliant work from Joe Smith as the half-back mesmerised the cover to send out a long ball for Hayes to score.

To round-off a good day at the office, Clayton snatched the ball from big winger Bradshaw to go over, much to the disgust of the opposition man.

Johnson closed the scoring with the touchline goal for 58-10.