Lewis penalty seals late win
●● NORTHERN PREMIER DIVISION KIRKBY LONSDALE ...... 24 ROSSENDALE................. 25 SHELDAN KEAY
RAllen’s late penalty secured Rossendale the four-point victory at Kirkby Lonsdale OSSENDALE RUFC picked up a dramatic win away from home against Kirkby Lonsdale after winning the match by one point.
It was close run right to the end and could have gone either way but a penalty in the closing stages from Lewis Allen eventually sealed the win for Rossendale in a second half that had been ‘ nip and tuck’ right through to the final whistle.
Kirkby Lonsdale opened with a penalty from Tom Pickthall but from a penalty line out and fifteen metre forward drive James Bramhall linked with Allen who found Tom Leader coming up on the inside from full back for a try under the posts, Allen also tagging on the extras.
Rossendale’s second came from another penalty line out with again the Bramhall and Allen combination creating the opportunity from a perfect cross field kick taken on the full by George Peel who scooted in for the score.
The home side came back with a second penalty from Pickthall and a try from Craig Galbraith before a catch and drive got Ryan McKibbin in for the third.
Allen converted to give his side an 11-19 lead at the interval. A third penalty from Pickthall followed by a try on the hour from Matt Hughes levelled matters at 19-19.
A penalty from Allen restored the lead but with ten minutes remaining Kirkby Lonsdale hit the front for the first time with a try from Dave Barton.
Rossendale came again and managed to force the penalty to guarantee that they came out on top and earned the four points.
The victory means that Rossendale have won their last four league games in a row, having not suffered defeat since the start of November.
They are now seventh in the Northern Premier table, having won eight of their 13 games so far far this season. They also have games in hand on all of the teams above them, and could climb even higher if they win those matches.
Rossendale are back in action on Saturday, welcoming Ilkley to Marl Pits.
Ilkley are in ninth place, but head into the game on the back of a 17-5 defeat at home to Billingham during the weekend.
The two sides have already met once this season, with Rossendale picking up a hard-fought 27-24 win away from home back in September. ●● Lancashire County Girls U14 players, from left, Abby Clarke, Beth MacDonald and Lucy Valentine from Haslingden High School