Neighbours put
THE final round of the u14s Lancashire Junior Cup saw Rochdale playing local rivals Littleborough for the third time this season.
Having been on the wrong end of two defeats, Rochdale were hungry for a victory in this encounter.
The conditions were ideal for both teams to show their attacking flair, Rochdale played into the wind in the first half and began by going through the phases, Taylor Hartley, and Garrett Myers shouldered the majority of the ball carrying but were ably supported by Joel Rigby, Kai Potter and Paddy Kershaw.
Ben Sunderland, Chris McConnell and Charlie Bleackley cleared the rucks and secured some turn overs to ensure the ball came back for the next attack.
Littleborough have an all court game and can make inroads through both forwards and backs as conditions dictate. They are also a very good counter attacking team and, when a Rochdale back move broke down, they fielded the ball and made good ground into the Rochdale 22.
From sustained pressure and several tap penalties Littleborough were first onto the score board after a strong carry by their second row which resulted in a try.
Back came Rochdale and, through a combination of backs and forwards, it was now their turn to exert pressure on the Littleborough line which was eventually breached by Paddy for his first try of the season. Mitchell Holt converted and Rochdale led 7-5.
Both teams were using their forwards to get over the gain line before releasing the backs to run into space. However, both defences were holding firm and it looked like Rochdale would take their lead into half time.
Unfortunately for Rochdale an attacking move broke down in the opposition 22 and the ball was scooped up by the Littleborough winger who cut through the defence and rounded the Rochdale full back to score an 80-meter breakaway try.
Despite being 7-12 down at half time, Rochdale knew that if they exploited the conditions, they could pin Littleborough back and the points would come.
But, for the second time in as many weeks, Rochdale allowed the opposition to gain field position when making mistakes in their own 22 and handing over possession.
Littleborough kept patiently hammering away at the Rochdale line until they were finally rewarded with their third try.
The conversion was missed and with the score 7-17 the game could have easily slipped away from Rochdale but, to their credit, they began to use the conditions and contained Littleborough in their own 22.
Strong running down the middle from Nick Wright, Will Simmons, James Tasker and Josh Clarke kept the pressure on, ably supported by Ollie Simpson, Matt Pendlebury, Matt Dearden, Zac Baker, Ben Kershaw and Danny Nobis out wide.
Credit also to Rochdale’s handling, as they smashed away at the Littleborough line, and to the opposition’s defence for constantly repelling them.
Something, however, had to give and eventually Holt barged over from a couple of meters out for Rochdale’s second try and took the score to 12-17.
Rochdale were now within a converted try of taking the lead and even though Littleborough were still a threat, and had several breakouts, they were finding it difficult to maintain field position in the opposition half.
With the game entering the final minutes and the rain beginning to fall, Rochdale laid siege to the