Penalty count takes its toll on East Coast
BRIDLINGTON ............... 32 ROCHDALE ..................... 20
ROCHDALE made the long trip to the East Coast to face Bridlington last weekend to find the 1st team pitch waterlogged.
The referee was happy for the game to go ahead on the 2nd team field instead and both captains agreed, game on.
Dale had some noticeable absentees in Stevie Collins, Danny Joesbury, Jake Castree and Ross Hartley, so it was a case of bring on the young bloods to cover, all but two of the XV being former Rochdale Colts.
Bridlington needed the points and played their strongest side.
Good early pressure saw Dale give away a penalty in front of the posts for offside the kick struck the upright so a lucky let off for the visitors.
The visitors were defending well but another indiscretion on the 22 led to Josh Stanyon, the Bridlington fly half, having an identical chance this time he made no mistake 3-0.
Dale had some good attacks with Dom Serridge and Aidy Gleeson leading the way without producing a score and the play swung back into their half with some deep kicks from Stanyon pegging Dale in their own 22. Yet another penalty, this time about 30 metres out, saw
them extend the lead to 6-0.
Bridlington were growing in confidence and the penalty count grew against the hapless Dale forwards. A scrum on the 22 and another infringement spotted by the ref ere meantanother three points – 9-0 with 15 minutes gone.
As usual, Dale bounced
back and had the home side defending their line. A lofted clearance found Josh Schofield who scampered through the defenders only to be stopped five metres short. However, Dale were awarded a rare penalty for offside and Matty Johnston made no mistake 9-3.
The young boys in the pack, James O’connell
and Ethan Poole, all had runs and did well in scrums with the line outs dominated by Chris Hodgkinson and Eddie Shanks but strong tackling by the home wing forwards held them in check and it was yet another penalty for offside that led to fourth score for Stanyon, 12-3.
As half time approached the cards began to appear. First, the Bridlington centre and a few minutes later, despite being at the bottom of an untidy ruck, Ben Sunderland saw yellow.
Soon after a second yellow for Dale meant they were down to 13 men and the inevitable happened as the home side’s advantage saw them run in their first try which was converted, 19-3 and Dale had a mountain to climb.
In a rare attack, Dale got close to the Bridlington line but a series of cynical penalties were given away inside the red zone – no card but a chance for Johnston to reduce the deficit, which he did, 19-6.
The second half saw Rochdale back to 14 men and Bridlington to full strength for a short while before the ref spotted a high tackle and the wing half had to go off. A yellow was the only decision, no
VAR here of course.
Dale were next on the score sheet when a good passing move by Gleeson let in Ben Sunderland to score. Johnston converted so 19-13 and game on. Even the penalties were going the visitors way as Bridlington hung on to their lead.
There were lots of high clearing kicks in the swirling wind, one such punt into the Dale 22 saw a knock on develop into a penalty through some sloppy play and up stepped Stanyon to make it 22-13.
Josh Gibson came on
for Dale and was soon in the attack to but was held up by the tiring home defence – all the signs seemed there for Dale but yet another silly penalty, this time 40 metres out, gave a needless three points to Bridlington as Stanyon got his fifth penalty to make it 25-13.
By this time the penalty count had gone into double figures and in desperate defending another home player saw yellow.
Following a scrum on the Bridlington five metre line the Dale forwards crashed over for a well deserved second try, converted by Johnston to make it 25-20 with five minutes left. Could Dale do a Selby and snatch the points? Not today.
The restart was fumbled and following a scrum on the Dale 22 the home side ran in their second try, ably converted, to make the final score 32-20 which flattered Bridlington somewhat but Dale only had themselves to blame for the early penalty count.
Rochdale are without a game this weekend then entertain to Derbyshire side Dronfield on Saturday 2nd December.