Victory is sweeter for leaders slip up
CHAMPIONSHIP ROSSENDALE 2NDS ..... 30 WIRRAL 2NDS ............... 20 JOHN BRIDGE
ROSSENDALE seconds consolidated their thirdplace position in the Championship with victory against Wirral.
A muddy Meadowhead generally stood up well, given the amount of rain that fell in the preceding days, a testament to the drainage work undertaken during the close season.
Dale took to the field with a strong line up and much was expected from a back line that has shown it can score at will on dry grounds. Sadly, the heavy pitch tempered the expectations and proved to be a good leveller against a decent Wirral side that came to play rugby and certainly gave an accomplished performance.
Wirral started well and looked good, playing with a tempo that Dale couldn’t match from the outset. Whilst they took an early lead with a penalty it was Dale who then started to claw their way back into the game, drawing their second breath as Scott Marshall pushed over from close range.
Further tries through the first half came from David Hassall with Matt Hindley converting and then from Tom Earnshaw. Dale, to be fair, were not at their best through the first stanza but weathered the early Wirral storm and were good for their lead at the break. ●● Action from Rossendale seconds’ victory against Wirral at the weekend
Rossendale made a better start to the second half, which they maintained for much of the period despite only managing a penalty conversion and two further tries, one by Robbie Willetts and the other by new comer Giles Makinson.
In the last ten minutes the seconds took their eye off the ball, allowing Wirral in for two late consolation tries to make the final scoreline more respectable.
In the pack Robbie Willetts was a industrious as ever and Makinson gave a decent account of himself on his debut. Mark Shaw’s catch on the go and drive to their line from Rossendale’s kick off just after they had conceded Wirral’s first try was a catalyst for the team to make a mark on the game and from which Marshall scored soon after.
David Hassall had a great game in the backs running some excellent lines and making great inroads into Wirrals defence while George Lowthion continued to impress at Full back with his powerful running.
A good win which kept Rossendale in third spot, made all the sweeter by leaders Blackburn suffering a loss at this weekend’s opponents, fourth-placed Wilmslow.