Dewsbury finished the group stages of the Northern Rail Cup topping Pool 2 with a 100 per cent record.

But at the other end of the pool, the Skolars will have been encouraged by a stronger performance than they have shown in recent weeks. Indeed they competed strongly in the second half, although that came after the Rams had pulled away towards the end of the first half.

The opening minnutes of the game had suggested Dewsbury might run riot. A quick move across the line allowed Liam Crawley to score out wide on the right hand side. However, it took a while for them to dominate. The Skolars managed to level the scores after Chad Isles latched onta a high kick from Paul Thorman and quickly passed the ball to Olu Iwenofu coming inside to complete the move. Some more swift passing across the line from the visitors found Gary North in space on the left midway through the first period.

It wasn't until the latter stages of the half that the visitors pulled away. Andy Tillotson's pass found Simon Cook for his first try, followed soon afterwards by a second for North. Cook also completed his brace after Austen Aggrey couldn't hold onto a high ball under extreme pressure.

Dewsbury could have made more of an impact in the second half, but squandered possession, twice conceding penalties for not playing the ball properly. Iwenofu scored his second try for the Skolars, just managing to ground the ball despite being covered by the defence.

The Skolars almost had another try soon afterwards when Jaroslaw Obuchowski made an interception deep in his own half racing 60 metres before being pulled down.

Dewsbury showed why they will be one of the sides to watch in Champioinship One by immediately counter-attacking. Andy Bostock touching down after breaking through in the centre. Iwenofu completed a hat-trick when he took a Thorman kick out to the right wing. But carelessness by the Skolars meant the visitors edged the second half with the influential Pat Walker pouncing on a loose pass and racing 20 metres to the line, before completing his sixth of seven kicks.

His final kick came after the final hooter, a penalty following a scrap where Bobby Wallis and James Walker were the main protagonists.

Victorious Rams Coach Warren Jowitt was pleased with the job done. "Weve finished top of the pool, that isn't something we'd set put to do, so that's very pleasing. There were some inexperienced players came down today and they showed they can come in and do a good job. Josh Tonks is only just 17, coming from Castleford Panthers. That was his first professional and open-age game - he was very promising."

Whilst Jowitt is moving to the start of the league campaign with five straight wins, his Skolars counterpart has the opposite record to put behind him. "We showed some good spirit, in defending for some time and then being able to get to the other end and score," said Callum Irving.

"We're doing 70-80 per cent of things well, but we're not doing the rest as well, which is why we are shipping in tries. It was good to have props Bobby Wallis and Glenn Osborn back and if we carry on down the right path we will be in good shape."

London: Corey Simms, Olu Iwenofu, Chad Isles, Jaroslaw Obuchowski, Austen Aggrey, Gareth Honor, Paul Thorman, Dave Ellison, Leigh Nissen, Bobby Wallis, Matt Thomas Tony Williams, Ben Joyce. Subs: Graeme Spencer, Glenn Osborn, Danny Burke, Frank Reid.
Tries: Iwenofu 3
Goals: Thorman 1/3

Dewsbury: Craig Bower, Bryn Powell, Kane Epati, Simon Cook, Gary North, Pat Walker, Andy Tillotson, Keegan Hirst, Mike Emmett, Rob Spicer, Alex Bretherton, Andy Bostock, Liam Crawley. Subs: Josh Tonks, Tom Colleran, Morgan Starkey, James Walker.
Tries: Crawley, North 2, Cook 2 Bostock, P Walker
Goals: P Walker 7/8

Attendance: 314