Rossy hold out after fast start
NORTH PREMIER POCKLINGTON ROSSENDALE SHELDAN KEAY
R29 38 OSSENDALE RUFC have moved up to fourth place in the North Premier after a hard-fought bonus point win during an entertaining and high-scoring game away to Pocklington.
Rossendale were soon into their stride with a catch and drive from five metres out getting Jack Wilkinson over for the opening try, with Lewis Allen slotting the conversion.
Allen soon brought up the second, the outside half cutting through from the opposition 22 on an incisive solo effort before adding the extras to hand Rossendale a 14-0 lead.
A forward drive then put Ryan McKibbin over again, with Allen landing the conversion to put his side firmly in the driving seat.
It looked like the visitors were on course for an emphatic win, but just before the break Pocklington hit back with a try from George Wagstaff, before Dan Elliott’s conversion closed the half with Rossendale 21-7 ahead.
The home side were first to score in the second period, Jed Jackson claiming the honours. Elliott missed the conversion but a penalty closed the gap to 21-15.
Rossendale were keen to make sure that they wouldn’t throw their lead away and a penalty from Allen got the visitors on the move again, before pressure from the pack created enough space for Steve Nutt to come into the line from full back to take the bonus point, Allen on song with the conversion.
Pocklington refused to concede with a try from Billy Harvey, converted by Elliott bringing more interest to the game.
However a break by Danny Collins and some subtle linking play from Fraser Lindsay sent Nutt, coming up on the outside, in for the fifth, Allen completing a clean sheet with the conversion.
In the final minute Pocklington managed a fourth try and a welldeserved bonus point through James Flint, converted by Elliott.
Rossendale managed to pick up their victory though, with the match finishing 38-2.
It means that Rossendale are in fourth place on 21 points, having won four and lost just two of their six matches so far this season.