That creak you hear is the sound of the relegation trapdoor opening for Dewsbury Rams.

In a game where Hornets sparked but rarely fired, Hally's men had way too much in the tank for a Dewsbury side that looked like they'd already embraced the concept of life in National League 2.

Hornets began disappearing into the distance as early as the third minute - Watson hoisted the bomb and, while several Dewsbury defenders debated who was going to deal with it, Wayne McHugh celebrated his return to the side by nipping in and touching down.

Five minutes later, Hornets' top double act laid on another of their summer specials. Radney Bowker's burst; a short pass you could get an Arts Council Grant for and David Larder rampaging through cowering defenders from 30 metres to score.

And on the next visit to Dewsbury's line, Hornets scored again - the ball worked across the line on the last tackle, Watson to McHugh to Nanyn who crashed in through his opposite number.

Dewsbury did rally briefly. Taking advantage of the yards gifted from aseries of penalties, they sent in sofa-smuggler Frank Watene (a hideous hybrid of Joe Brand and Roland from Grange Hill) for a one yard try.

Hornets didn't arse about. Dewsbury dropped the kick off; Hornets worked the ball close and Watson sent in Nanyn for a carbon copy of his first try.

Once again unable to work the ball from their own half, Dewsbury made big yards from a penalty and French International Sylvain Houles pushed past some ordinary tackling to score.

But Hornets had the final say of the half. Watson spotted the Desbury defence lying very flat, bisected the defenders with a delicate chip through and Wayne McHugh outpaced the cover to touch down. Half time 22-8 - and Dewsbury very lucky not to be much further behind.

Andy Fisher's half time team talk appeared to have an almost immediate effect. Dewsbury started playing rugby and Jamie Benn's lob over the defence was touched down by Houles - unfortunately for the Rams, the officials stood off and the effort was ruled offside.

It was a catalyst for Hornets to extract the digit. on 50 minutes Hornets took the ball to the Rams' line and, as they scrambled back, Richard Pachniuk slumped in from a yard. Three minutes later Radney Bowker stepped and jinked close to the line before finding Chris Irwin who sliced through to score.

The introduction of Jim Elston gave Dewsbury the go-forward they'd lacked - and just past the hour he was rewarded by is own one-yard wonder; diving in from acting half for the Rams' consolation try.

But the last quarter belonged to Hornets. On 72 minutes a flat pass from Watson posted James Bunyan in at the corner. There was uproar amongst the Dewsbury contingent as the corner flag was uprooted, but the touch judge on the spot was perfectly happy - and so were we!

A bullocking Matt Long break on 75 minutes set up field position for Chris Irwin who showed good strength to force his way through a two man tackle to ground the ball. And Hornets saved the best till the very last - with the clock counting down, James Bunyan's powerful break and neat pass from his own 20 metre line found Marlon Billy who sprinted fully 75 metres to score under the posts. Ah, lovely stuff!

Final score Hornets 52 Dewsbury 14 - and that flattered Dewsbury.

In the end Hornets were faster, fitter, stronger and smarter in every department. While Dewsbury dug in and worked hard, it was obvious that they were playing to a damage limitation gameplan.

Hally was his usual understated self, "We did a job without breaking any pots," he said. We changed things round a little bit and had a look at a few different permutations in the second half. We've only got a small squad, but players who can play in several different positions."

Ah, total Rugby League - just what we've always dreamed of here at Hornets. And this, again, was totally convincing.