Conference opens in triumph for Rochdale
Chairman’s update for supporters
WITH the preliminary leagues completed, Sunday saw the first Conference league game for Rochdale Junior Colts. Leigh were the visiting team and these encounters are always close, hard fought affairs.
The going was good to firm with the sun shining and a stiff breeze blowing down the pitch.
Rochdale played with the wind at their backs for the first half and they were soon camped in the opposition 22. Matches like these are often decided by small margins and a knock-on close to the Leigh line denied Rochdale a scoring opportunity and allowed Leigh to clear the danger.
It was Leigh who mounted the next sustained attack, relying on their big ball carriers to get across the gain line. This pressure eventually told despite some very strong defence and Leigh registered the first score (0-7).
Rochdale were soon back on the attack and were given good field position when strayed offside.
From the ensuing tap penalty, Ben Sunderland used the decoy runners to open a gap before driving for the line and grounding the ball (5-7.)
The score restored Rochdale’s confidence and they were quickly back on the attack.
Garratt Myers, Olly Mills, Jacob Jackson and Tom Drennan kept Rochdale on the front foot.
From a ruck five meters out, Mills was able to power through a couple of tackles and score under the post (12-7).
Rochdale’s scrum was getting on top but the lineout was mis-firing and making it difficult to sustain any pressure. This was compounded when a Leigh front row player had to retire injured and the scrums went uncontested.
With no more scores until the interval Rochdale turned around with a narrow five-point lead and I suppose the question was would it be enough into the wind for the second half.
The second half proved to be a monumental defensive effort for the whole Rochdale team. Gabe Fraser, Ben Kershaw, Ollie Simpson and Max Cooper defending
Leigh the wide channels with power and poise. Tom Shaw, Will Simmons, Tom Hesketh, Mitch Holt, Nick Wright and Will Rawlinson blocking the midfield.
With the backs being shut down Leigh went back to plan ‘A’ and continued to run into the Rochdale forward pack where Sunderland, Jackson, Alex ‘Basil’ Barry, Joel Rigby, Ben Hankinson, Drennan, Charlie Bleackley and Sonny Joyce gave no quarter. Special mention to Myers and Mills whose dominance at the tackle stemmed wave after wave of the Leigh attack.
With the game entering the final quarter Leigh began to kick over the advancing defenders and hope for a favourable bounce. This eventually paid dividends with the Leigh winger scoring right on the touchline. The most difficult conversion was successful and Leigh had their noses in front (12-14).
All the momentum was with Leigh now so Rochdale would have to dig deep to find a way back into the contest. It is a credit to the forward pack that they were able to turn the game in the last ten minutes.
They redoubled their efforts and began to get some field position in the opposition half. From a kick to the corner Rochdale ran a lineout move which freed Myers down the blindside and his pace and power were enough to break a tackle and touchdown in the corner (17-14).
Time was now running out and both teams were giving their all in a desperate attempt to finish on top.
Another Leigh cross field kick bounced into the Rochdale winger, Kershaw’s, hands and after stepping the first man he set off on an 80m run to the line.
It seemed to take an age to get there but get there he did for the decisive score (22-14).
Rochdale negotiated the final minutes before clearing the ball to touch to end a pulsating game.
An outstanding team performance built on a committed and resolute defence rewarded with a hard-earned victory. For a defensive masterclass, capped with a game-turning try, Myers received the MOTM award. SQUAD:
Joel Rigby, Garrett Myers, Ben Hankinson, Ben Sunderland, Nick Wright, Tom Drennan, Jacob Jackson, Olly Mills, Will Rawlinson, Mitch Holt, Tom Shaw, Will Simmons, Ben Kershaw, Gabe Fraser, Oli Simpson, Alex Barry, Charlie Bleackley, Sonny Joyce, Tom Hesketh, Max Cooper
AS we reach the end of what has been a superb period for the club on and off the field following a thrilling last minute FA cup win at Notts County which sets up a tie in front of the ITV cameras against League One leaders Plymouth Argyle in Round Two on Sunday 5th December 2021 (kick off 12.15pm), I want to provide an update on the activities of the club over the last four months...
● BUILDING a sustainably run and fan-owned club
In my very first interview following being elected Chairman, I explained that I wanted to build a strong and capable Board and to carry out the clear mandate given by shareholders at the EGM on 1st June 2021 which is to make Rochdale AFC a sustainably run and fan-owned club competing at the highest possible level.
We now have the full Board in place.
These are all committed and experienced individuals with proven track records of success in their specialist fields, who offer both a wide variety of skills and business networks and as fellow fans demonstrate a great passion for the club’s ethos in existing for the benefit of its stakeholders and its supporters.
We have moved quickly in establishing ourselves as a sustainably run and fan owned football club.
We have always shown responsibility in our playing budgets and have appointed a superb manager in Robbie Stockdale. As recent results demonstrate, we have the basis of a very talented squad of players.
FURTHER commercial opportunities under a fan-owned model
We shall never rest on our laurels and will
● keep building and improving the club which means we need to increase the national profile and commercial reach of the club.
We are a responsible business building sustainably for all our stakeholders.
I am delighted to be able to inform you that we are a true fan owned community football club, with over 500 different fan shareholders including both Dale Trust and the Community Trust.
We are no longer accepting share applications and, like Exeter City, fans make up the clear majority of shareholders.
Financially, the planned divestment of players during the summer and progression in both the Carabao Cup and now the FA Cup, see the club on a sound financial footing for the remainder of the season.
We shall always ensure that we are earning as much as we can from our owned facilities and there will be announcements over the coming months of new events and products that we will be providing.
As with the last six months we all need to work together to make these a success even if it is just promoting the club to friends, neighbours and colleagues and making people aware of our sterling work in the local community.
● PRICING for the Plymouth Argyle FA Cup fixture
To recognise the contribution of all our fans, we have made ticket prices as affordable as we possibly can for the Round Two FA cup fixture against Plymouth Argyle.
Ticket prices are as follows: £1 for children under 12-years-old; £5 for young persons (aged 12 to 21) and concessions; £10 for adults.
We hope you will get the word out and encourage friends to join as large a crowd as is possible to cheer on the team and see if the underdog can achieve a cup shock, lets create a superb atmosphere for the cameras and show what a brilliant club we are.
Up the Dale!