Uphill battle as
OLD BRODLEIANS ........ 21 ROCHDALE ..................... 19
AFTER last week’s great win at Goole in Regional 2 North East, Dale were looking to move further up the table with another win on the road, this time against Halifax side Old Brodleians.
However, the Redbrook outfit’s half-time lead was gradually whittled away as they kicked uphill in the second period.
Dale had Ollie Coldman and Tom Hesketh missing but still fielded a strong side.
The weather at the start of the game was awful with heavy rain and a gusty wind, perched as we were high in the Pennines.
The home side were soon in full attack mode and only some good tackling from Ross Hartley, in for Coldman, and the wing forwards Jake Castree and Ben Sunderland kept Brods at bay.
High kicks from the Brods No. 10 were the order of the day but captain Josh Schofield took one in his own 10 metre area and ran through the entire opposing oack only to be stopped on their 22.
Dale’s defence had a really testing opening spell, ending in a penalty for the home side in front of posts, the score 3-0 after 10 minutes.
As usual, Dale responded with good passing moves led by Stevie Collins at fly half and from a ruck on Brods’ 22 he took the ball and raced in for Dale’s first try, his kick being blown just wide 3-5.
Brods continued to try high cross kicks to feed their winger but Dale’s defence were equal to it and after one such attempt, full back Schofield had another mazey run, only to be stopped on the home side’s five metre line.
The ball was passed across to centre Matty
Johnston to score under the posts, converted by Collins to make it 3-12 after 15 minutes.
Dale were well on top, holding the Brods attacks and winning good ball in the lineouts thanks to Chris Hodgkinson and Eddie Shanks.
Stevie Collins was running the show, spreading passes around and in an end-to-end contest Dale were again held on the Brods five metre line.
A high kick was well taken by scrum half Danny Joesbury who went all the way to score a great try converted by Collins to make it 3-19.
The home side hit back, testing the Dale defence and eventually the ball went wide to the left wing and Brods had their first try, 8-19.
Next came the first of several controversial decisions. When following up a high clearance, young Mich Holt was a judged to have taken the full back high and was yellow carded, this after a stamping incident by a Brods player was missed minutes earlier.
Soon after, the home side were down to 14 as their 2nd row went to the bin.
The high cross field kicks seemed to be Brods’ only tactic and in one instance Schofield was too fast for their winger and hacked on a ball on his own 22, beating the home defence for speed. With a second soccer style kick on he had reached their 22 only to be hauled down, losing the ball forward.
Again, just before half time a fine tackle by Hartley saved a certain try for Brods. So the interval came with Dale holding a well deserved 19-8 lead.
The pitch at Woodhead Park has a distinct slope and Dale were playing up it after the interval and facing a swirling wind.
They continued to defend well and after a line out on their 22, Joesbury was tackled into touch on the 10 metre line. The scrum went Brods way but the centre knocked on. Play went on, two passes later the winger clearly knocked on after a terrible pass on his bootlaces, carry on said
the ref and Brods promptly touched down to the amazement of even their own supporters! 15-19.
Dale were on the back foot now and coach Collins rang the changes, bringing on Harry Hayes and returning winger Declan O’loughlin to bolster the defence.
After a promising break by Olly Mills, Dale lost the ball on halfway and a series of free kicks saw Brods on the Dale 22 where a penalty was conceded and Harry Hill saw yellow, along with the Brods No.4.
The kick went over, so the score was 18-19 with 10 minutes left.
Both sides battled well in the now sunny weather. Dale went forward and only stout defence by the home side kept them from scoring a deserved fourth try, a line out on the Dale 22 was fumbled and, at the resulting scrum, Dale were penalised. Brods’ kicker, who had kept them in the game all afternoon, stepped up and planted the ball from the touchline to make the final score 21-19 to the home side.
This was a good game –
Dale should have secured the points in the first half which they dominated, but it was a lesson learned.
Today sees Rochdale back at home as they entertain Scarborough, 3pm kick off.