Rossy on rise ahead of testers

ROSSENDALE RUFC are in high spirits in advance of their match against Billingham after comfortably beating relegation bound Birkenhead Park last weekend.

Club chairman Nicholas Ingham said of the 19-51 win: “It was a good performance in the very wet and very cold conditions.

“They [Birkenhead] are a team fighting relegation at the bottom of the league table but we did play some good rugby.”

Thanks to poor winter weather last month, Rossendale’s home game against Billingham was rescheduled to Easter Saturday – a week after playing them away.

“They’re going to be two tough games,” Ingham said. “Obviously when we play up there we’ll be playing on the synthetic pitch and that’s something we’re not used to compared to them.

“They’ll play quite an expansive game so it’s going to be quite a test for us I think.”

The chairman dismissed the idea that playing the same team in quick succession poses unusual issues.

“They’re going to have to travel down to play us on Easter Saturday.

“We’ve got a couple of players who are unavailable to travel and they will probably have a few on Easter Saturday when they come down to us.

“If we can put in a good performance up there then it fares good for us when we play them at home the following week.

Billingham are currently fifth in the league, one place above Rossendale and beat Sandal 42-7 last weekend.

With the sixth placed finish looking increasingly likely for Rossendale, Ingham explained the club are happy where they are.

“After the hype of last season when we got into the play-offs and lost by one point, we decided this was the league we wanted to stay in.

“We’re the longest serving member of the Northern Premier now we’ve been in it for nine years.

“We’re happy to say this is our home, we’re happy with this league.”

Therefore the club didn’t push for more fresh faces in the squad; instead they looked to bring youth through.

Ingham added: “We didn’t go out and recruit a lot of players; we said we would look after some of the young lads that are coming through the ranks.”

Rossendale’s start to the season was a difficult one with a string of matches against three of the current top four and consequently they view finishing sixth as a positive outcome.

“It was a tough start to the season because we had Preston, Harrogate and Lymm which were all vying for the top spot.

“I’d be quite happy if we finished sixth which it is looking like we might do.

“It’s been a good season again.”

‘They’re going to be two tough games’