Form side Dale shake off Glossop

AFTER last week’s last-minute winner at league leaders Selby, Dale were aiming to extend their impressive home form as they entertained a Glossop side currently bottom of the division.

Dale were without regular backs Ste Collins, Matt Johnson and Hooker Jonny Bradley but saw the return of Travis Townsend, Aidy Gleeson and Jack

Green with James O’connell at hooker.

On a nice sunny day a Moorgate Avenue and with the pitch in great condition the game began with a strong attack by the visitors leading to a penalty in front of Dale’s posts a simple conversion and

Glossop were in front

3-0.

From the restart Dale gave away a scrum as the ball did not travel 10m.

Glossop could not take advantage and the ball ended up in a line out on their 22.

The ball was won by Chris Hodgkinson and in a nice passing move Danny Joesbury burst through to score and with Aidy Gleeson adding the conversion it was 7-3 after15 minutes.

Both sides were going for points and Glossop had their fair share of the ball pressing Dale in the 22 but strong tackles from Gleeson and Ross Hartley stopped them short, Dale were on the attack with fly half Jack Green and Joesbury making the plays, after a good attack the ball came wide and Captain

Josh Schofield steamed into score from close range the kick went wide so

12-3.

Dale were beginning to take control and after a series of raids into the visitors 22 it was Gleeson showing all his strength who battered through the Glossop defence to score this time making no mistake with the conversion 19-8.

As half time approached Dale were penalised for off side and the Glossop No.10 made easy work of the kick from the 22.

So half time saw the score 19-11 and Dale had some work to do to secure the all important bonus points.

Penalties and a yellow card for the Glossop No.10 left

Dale pressing hard and they were unlucky when a chip over the defence by Green was taken in the dead ball area by the visitors full back.

The pressure was all on Glossop and a series of penalties took Dale to within 10m of the line James O’connell was next on the score sheet as the young Hooker crashed over for a well deserved try Gleeson added the extras so 26-11.

Glossop kept going and pressed hard, coach Collins replaced Eddie Shanks and Jake Castree who had taken a knock bringing on Andrew Foster and Ben Sunderland to bolster the pack.

A knock to Hartley saw him go off for attention Castree came back on and young Ethan Poole who had played well at prop was given a rest.

Glossop took advantage of all the changes and were able to score a nice try after battering the Dale defence in the red zone for several minutes the conversion took the score to 26-18 and the game was back on.

As the Dale pack began to click the won two scrums against the head leading to a try scoring position under the Glossop posts and it was scrum half Joesbury who popped up to score the conversion was good so the final score was 33-18 to Dale and the maximum points taken.

Glossop played their part and will no doubt improve in the weeks ahead.

Dale’s next game is the long trip to Bridlington with an early coach from Moorgate Avenue.