Rossy pick up big win
NORTHERN PREMIER LYMM............................... 28 ROSSENDALE................. 33 SHELDAN KEAY
ROSSENDALE RUFC picked up a big win in the penultimate game of the season defeating Lymm RUFC away from home.
From where they started at the beginning of the campaign, a fifth place in Northern Premier was a good finish for Rossendale and this game was the ideal way to end their final away match of the season.
It was ‘ nip and tuck’ from start to finish and it could have gone either way with never more than a score between the sides right up to the final whistle
Lymm opened with two penalties from Cormack Nolan before a break by Phil Mills and some good hands creating an overlap opened the way for Jack Ward to go in for his side’s first try. A catch and drive from a penalty line out got ●● Ryan McKibben was among the try scorers for Rossendale at Lymm on Saturday Ryan McKibbin over, Ward on hand with the conversion.
Lymm roared back through tries from James Kimber and Adam Bray both converted by Nolan to restore the home sides’ lead before an interception of a Lymm attack by George Peel who went in under the posts for a try again converted by Ward made for 20-19 at the interval.
A break by Leon Simpson and neat interplay got Curtis Strong over, the full back coming into the line at pace. Ward added the conversion before trading penalties with Nolan who then went in for a try to make it a one point game, Ward easing Lancashire nerves with a late penalty to seal the win.
It means that Rossendale are in fifth place in the Northern Premier table with just one game remaining, while Lymm end the season in fourth. Lymm have a points difference of nearly 250 more that Rossendale though, so the East Lancashire side will be unable to catch their rivals.
Rossendale’s final match of the season takes place on Saturday as they welcome Ilkley to Marl Pits. The match was set to take place earlier in the campaign but was postponed due to the weather. Ilkley are in seventh place in the table, and head into the match on the back of three straight victories.
Rossendale were victorious when the two teams met in September, picking up a 27-24 win away on the opening day of the campaign. Tries from Nick Flynn, Tom Leader and Ryan McKibben earned Rossendale the win. ●● Rossendale Valley Vixens under 8s JUNIOR FOOTBALL MICHAEL FOGARTY ROSSENDALE Valley Vixens under 8s Girls team made it a perfect start in their first-ever tournament together playing at the Home of National League North side Altrincham FC, Moss Lane.
The all girls team is made up of girls who have played in ‘boys’ teams for a few years right to girls who were playing their first ever competitive game of football.
The format of the tournament was six teams in the group with the top two going through to the final.
Player of the day, Ella Collinson, playing at the back, took it upon herself to get the Vixens scoring. Ella won the ball at the back and took on three players before slotting home from a tight angle.
The girls relaxed and found their shooting boots. Isabelle Thomas won the ball deep inside Maghull, a Liverpool based team and calmly slotted home. The girls added three more to take the first one 5-0.
The second game saw the girls take on Manchester City sister club, FC Bluestar. The girls picked up from where they had left off in the first. Great work down the right hand side from Darcie Lynan, winning the ball back she glided down the wing to square the ball across the box for Maizie Trueman to calmly place the ball in the corner of the net. Two more followed, Collinson netting again and Maizie adding her second.
The third game was arguably the girls’ toughest test. Coming up against Bolton Girls, a team whom had also won their first two.
The game was end to end with both teams having chances that went begging. That was until Maisie Greenwood received the ball from Kiera White pass and literally turned the Bolton girls inside out weaving her way towards goal before firing in to the back of the net giving the girls the lead.
The girls added another with a powerful strike from Miriam Alioune and the game finished 2-0.
The fourth game saw the girls come up against Literland, knowing a victory would send the girls through with a game to spare.
The Vixens started to really look like champions in the making in this game.
Two early strikes and the girls had one foot in the final and they began to play with no pressure. Spreading the ball wide, one-twos, lots of skills.
The girls really did enjoy themselves in this 10 minutes and they ran out 6-0 winners.
The final game of the group saw the girls take on Timperley FC. The girls were caught on their heals and The Timperley Girls took the lead with a great counter attack. Ellie Jones straight from the kick off, weaved her way in and out and rifled the ball home.
Miriam played a lovely 1-2 with Darcie Lynan just on the edge of the box and added another. Kiera White was instrumental at the back and set up attack after attack with her selfless play.
It was no surprise that her winning the ball back and playing the right pass was the catalyst for the third and fourth.
The cup final saw the girls take on Litherland.
The girls started strongly and there only looked like one winner as soon as Miriam Alioune placed the ball home. Izzy Thomas got the second after Ellie Jones won the ball high up in the opposition half. Maisie Greenwood linked up with Maizie Trueman and the girls made it three. The scoring was finished when Miriam rounded the keeper after being played through by Ellie Jones.