Colts secure league and Lancashire Cup double
Attack will only get better says Chapple
SUNDAY saw the long-awaited conclusion of the Lancashire Cup with Rochdale taking on Preston Grasshoppers at Fleetwood RUFC in the Junior Colts Final.
It had been a battle against time for Rochdale to get their squad fully fit after numerous injuries recently, but on the day they were at full strength.
It was a clear sunny day with a stiff breeze blowing from one end of the pitch to the other.
Rochdale played with the wind in the first half and started quickly.
The Rochdale forwards imposed themselves from the off with a series of strong carries in the loose and a succession of ‘catch and drives’ from the lineouts.
Ben Hankinson was imperious at the front of the lineout and after one such lineout drive, first Olly Mills and then Garrett Myers drove for the line, the latter successfully making the whitewash to register the game’s first try.
Mitch Holt expertly used the wind to secure the extra 2 points (7-0).
Rochdale knew they would need more points to defend in the second half when the wind would be in their faces. Rochdale kept pressing but good defensive work from Hoppers kept them at bay.
Moving the ball wide in a strong wind is always difficult and several moves broke down because of it.
Eventually, after some more strong carries by Jacob Jackson and Declan O’loughlin, Rochdale created the overlap and Gabe Fraser crossed in the corner (12-0).
Preston did manage several forays into the Rochdale 22 but good defence and Tom Shaw’s excellent boot were able to relieve the pressure.
The half finished with Rochdale on the attack again but unable to add to the score.
Hoppers would probably have been pleased to have held it to a two-score game.
Rochdale changed their tactics for the second half, running more ball and keeping the kicks along the ground and out of the headwind.
This enabled them to play the game in the middle of the pitch and keep Hoppers at arm’s length.
Hoppers were seeing more of the ball now but still couldn’t break the Rochdale defence.
The pressure was building and, after one too many penalties, Rochdale received a yellow card.
This was the encouragement Hoppers needed and there followed a spell of sustained pressure in the Rochdale 22.
Another yellow card followed and Rochdale were reduced to playing with 13 men.
During this period Preston only managed to cross the Rochdale line once and then the player was unable to ground the ball.
This resulted in a goal line dropout and Rochdale held out until the numbers were once again equal.
As is often the case when you don’t take your opportunities you are left to rue the fact. Rochdale persisted with keeping the ball in hand and began to work their back three into the wide channels.
Ben Kershaw made the break and, even though his kick ahead was gathered by the defence, Will Simmons was on hand to force the penalty for not releasing. From the ensuing scrum Rochdale moved the ball wide to Tom Hesketh who joined the line from fullback.
Hesketh arced his run in between defensive centre and winger, outpacing both to score (17-0).
There was no way back now for Preston and with the clock running down
Zac Baker, one of those returning from injury, was able to scoop up a charged-down kick and accelerate away from the defence for a welldeserved try (24-0).
A dominant forward effort from Ben Sunderland, James O’connell,
Jake Hopkins, Alex Barry, Tom Drennan, Joel Rigby, Theo Stanford-campbell, Sonny Joyce.
Matched with a watertight backline marshalled by Nick Wright, Oli Simpson, Max Cooper and Will Rawlinson.
A Lancashire Cup to go with the League B conference title marks the end of a very successful year for the Rochdale Junior Colts SQUAD:
James O’connell, Joel Rigby, Jake Hopkins, Garrett Myers, Declan O’loughlin, Ben Hankinson, Alex Barry, Ben Sunderland, Nick Wright, Tom Drennan, Jacob Jackson, Olly Mills, Will Rawlinson, Zac Baker, Mitchell Holt, Tom Shaw, Will Simmons, Ben Kershaw, Gabe Fraser, Oli Simpson, Max Cooper, Will Rawlinson, Theo Stanford-campbell
LANCASHIRE supporters were at a loss to name a stronger Red Rose bowling attack than the one that helped beat Gloucestershire last week, but Glen Chapple has a scary warning for the rest of the LV= Insurance County Championship – it will only get better!
Test trio Jimmy Anderson, Saqib Mahmood and Hassan Ali - married with prospective Test spinner Matthew Parkinson - fired the county to an innings and 57-run win to make it two wins out of two.
Chapple even had the luxury of leaving out last season’s leading wickettaker Tom Bailey, who claimed 51 first-class scalps in 2021, such was the strength of his options.
But the Red Rose head coach - a tasty seamer himself in his playing days - believes there is even more to come from his attack as they headed to Hampshire for their third match of the campaign on Friday.
“On paper (that bowling attack) is right up there, but this attack can get better,” said Chapple.
“It was Jimmy and Saqib’s first run out this season so although their efforts were brilliant, they will get better over the course of the next few games.
“We all know what Jimmy is capable of when he gets going. The first game is hard for anybody but he is fit and strong and has done really well.
“It is probably slightly frustrating for Tom Bailey, but we have to rotate the bowlers and if we get through the first few games without any injuries that will be a plus too.”
Anderson and Mahmood sat out Lancashire’s opening win over Kent at the request of the ECB, with both eyeing up the opening Test of the summer against New Zealand which starts on June 2.
“Given good fitness runs, Jimmy and Saq want to play as many games as they can, although probably not all of them before that first Test,” added Chapple.
Overseas player Hassan was the pick of the Lancashire bowlers against Gloucestershire claiming match figures of 9-96. And Chapple has been impressed by the impact the Pakistan international has had already.
“He is a wholehearted cricketer, a really friendly lad,” he said.
“Everyone is getting on with him superbly but, more importantly, he is committed on the pitch, and has quality.
“You can’t question his work or his skill levels, he is good to watch.
“We were told clearly before he came that he is a 100 percent competitor, that is what you want on top of his abilities and he has done brilliantly.”