Rossy run lifts them to second
●● Ryan McKibben reaches over to score for Rossendale in their victory against Ilkley NATIONAL LEAGUE THREE NORTH ROSSENDALE ILKLEY SHELDAN KEAY
R34 22 OSSENDALE kept up their good run of form after picking up a win against Ilkley on Saturday.
The hosts came out on top at Marl Pits, with other results going their way to see them climb to second in the National Three North table.
There is no doubt that Rossendale have been playing some quality rugby and fully deserve their position in the table.
Rossendale were lively at the start of the match and it didn’t take them long to open the scoring.
They scored from a loose maul straight from the kick-off and with good hands from James Bramhall and Sam Atiola, Curtis Strong came up on the inside from full back to take the scoring pass.
It was from a loose maul again that the home side brought up the second, with Reece Tomlinson putting Ryan McKibbin over. Steve Nutt added the conversion, before later slotting home a penalty to give his side a 15-0 lead.
Ilkley soon got their first points on the scoreboard when they scored a penalty from Joe Rowntree but a push over from a scrum close to the visitors’ line got McKibbin in for his second try of the afternoon.
Nutt couldn’t add the conversion on this occasion, meaning that Rossendale led 20-3 at the interval. ●● Dominic Moon looks to break through the Eccles rearguard
It was more of the same from the hosts at the start of the second half, and from a scrum penalty and a pick up by McKibbin, Bramhall and Atiola got George Peel over for the bonus score, Nutt on hand with the conversion this time.
Atiola, who had already had a part in setting up the scoring, managed one for himself again off a pick up by McKibbin and a break by Tom Jones.
The winger appearing from nowhere to coast in for a well-deserved effort, Nutt adding the extras.
Despite trailing by a large margin, Ilkley continued to fight as they tried to get something from the match.
They hit back with tries from Pat Power and Aaron McGee, before Rob Reckless went over to make it a nervy end to the match.
Rowntree managed to add the extras for two of the tries.
Rossendale will now look to try and make it five league wins in a row when they make the trip to Sandal this weekend.