Dale bounce back with a whitewash

AFTER last week’s disappointing result against Rochdale, Rossendale RUFC under-16s bounced back in style with a 39-0 win against Eccles RUFC in what proved to a cracking game.

Rossendale started with the intensity that had been missing over the past couple of weeks putting Eccles under sustained pressure from the kick off which eventually told with Faris Lorgat going over for the first try inside eight minutes.

Dale were becoming dominant especially in the scrums and were much quicker to the breakdowns.

Even when Eccles chipped the ball over the top of Rossendale, fullback Callum Whelan took the ball on the run making 40 yards before a fantastic offload to Joe Simpson for Rossendale’s second try and Bedlow converted.

Eccles tried to get back into the game with some strong running by the forwards but then chipped the ball again to Whelan, who again took the ball before making a mazy 30 yard run offloading to Lorgat who beat three Eccles players before getting his second try of the game. Bedlow converted making it 19-0 at half-time.

Rossendale started the second half as they finished the first and started to play some really good rugby with Dale’s backs having plenty of the ball and stretching Eccles all over the pitch before playing the ball through hands from one side to the other allowing Quinn Smethurst to go over for a try in the corner.

Eccles were really rattled by this and began a more physical side of their game but Rossendale stood firm and carried on playing their game.

Some great play in the forwards going through several phases before Lorgat went over for his third try of the game. Dale kept the ball in the forwards for the next ten minutes frustrating eccles with Paul Nield and Simpson breaking the Eccles line every time he got the ball resulting in Simpson going over for his second try of the game.

The game then ebbed and flowed for the next 10 minutes with neither team making any ground of note, Dale then stole an Eccles ball and caught them on the backlit with Theo Balshaw going over for Rossendale’s seventh try.

Dale then relaxed allowing Eccles some easy ball which they nearly converted into a try put Dale roused themselves and regained concentration to keep their clean sheet.

Dale were unlucky not to add to their score, butt was a great performance from all 15 players but special mention to Whelan, who had his best game by far at full back.