Unsworth stars as Colts show class
A SPATE of illness and injuries hit on a weekend when Dale already had limited numbers due to Sale, county and college engagements, so were only able to field a team of 13 for the home game against Northwich.
The recent weather has limited the amount of rugby, and led to some very Marl heavy Pits. conditions at
Sportingly, Northwich, forgoing their permitted advantage of an extra player, started the game also playing with even numbers, matching Dale’s 13.
They were on the scoreboard first after kicking to touch from a penalty.
The visitors executed a lineout strike move and barrelled over to score. Soon afterwards, Jordan Fortune made a break towards the Northwich line but was hauled down short, but in the process managed to infringe and concede a penalty about five metres out. Mark Rutherford-Shaw reacted quickly with a quick tap before feeding Isaac Cornwall who crashed over to score. Dale’s next try came after Jacob Taylor fielded a clearance kick and made some left. Tom way tackles A neat through Unsworth progress and pass sprint a allowed couple down to jink fifty the of his metres Dale’s to third score. try came just before half time, after a few phases trundling up the field around the half-way line, when the ball ended up in the hands of Jordan Fortune who ran down the left to score in the corner. The second half was another tight affair, with both sides struggling to get the upper hand, and the fatigue of a heavy pitch with no replacements was also taking its toll. Northwich scored the only points in the second half with a try after winning the chase from a ball kicked into the corner. Dale’s man of the match went to Tom Unsworth.