Dale deliver in the downpour
ON a bizarre weather weekend, Dale’s game away to Moortown was moved from Leeds and a flooded pitch to Keighley’s all weather ground and played under floodlights!
The truly awful weather continued throughout the afternoon with torrential rain and a driving wind, despite this both sides provided some excellent rugby.
Dale welcomed back Stevie Collins at fly half and Kyle Parry at hooker.
Dale went straight on the attack and after a nice passing move reached the Moortown 5 metre line the pack took over and it was wing forward Harry Hayes who crashed over for the first points after five minutes, Collins provided the extras for 7-0.
Moortown were soon back in the Dale half and following a penalty they had a line out on the visitors 22.
A good passing move saw them score by the posts leaving a simple conversion for 7-7.
The wind was in Moortown’s favour and their strong pack were bullying Dale and from a 5 metre scrum they forced their way over the line for a converted try 14-7 after 20 minutes.
From the re-start Moortown knocked on and Dale used the scrum to get the ball to Collins who produced a massive kick against the wind which took the play to the 22 where another tight passing move allowed Olly Mills to batter his way over the line for Dale’s second try.
The conversion went wide so 14-12 with half time approaching.
Moortown were given a penalty which took them to the Dale 22, another infringement saw them in the Dale 5 metre zone.
With a scrum the pack pushed over for their third try and conversion leaving the half time score at
21-12.
The second half saw Dale with the wind to their backs and playing down a slight slope, still the rain drove down with gusts of gale force wind adding to the conditions faced by both sides.
Stevie Collins now took over with deep kicks and jinking runs.
He tested the Moortown defence who finally gave away a penalty 30m out.
Collins elected to kick for goal and calmly slotted the ball over despite the swirling wind, 21-15.
Not to be outdone, the Moortown fly half had a chance when Dale were penalized in their 22, again the kick was good
24-15.
All the pressure was coming from Dale with the pack dominating.
They forced several penalties for slowing the play down and finally the referee who was having a good game produced a yellow card to a Moortown forward.
With the one man advantage Dale continued to press and were denied a try on 60 minutes for a double movement but were soon pressing when Collins took the ball from the back of the scrum 10 metres out and jinked through the defence for a great solo try under the posts, the conversion made it 24-22.
The line out had gone much better in the second half with Chris Hodgkinson and Eddie Shanks dominating.
Kyle Parry threw well and as the possession mounted the Dale forwards came into their own with Olly Mills scoring a second try and securing the bonus points for Dale.
The kick went wide so 24-27 to Dale and with only five minutes left Moortown threw everything at the resolute Dale defence but great tackling by Hayes and Cliff Howard kept them at bay.
A big relieving kick from Danny Joesbury took Dale to half way where Collins took over with a cheeky chip over the tiring Moortown defenders leading to a scrum for Dale on the 5 metre line and with the pack dominant it was Collins again who sneaked in for his second and Dale’s fifth try of the afternoon
32-24.
Dale’s dominance was almost complete when a final break by Moortown was snuffed out on the Dale line.
Final score 32-24 to Dale in this pulsating game played in awful conditions.
Credit to both sides and thanks to Keighley for providing the 4G pitch and the hospitality.
Next Saturday Dale welcome Morley for the last game before Christmas
2.15 kick off at Moorgate Avenue.