Dale undone as hosts hit back
NORTH PREMIER HARROGATE .................. 36 ROSSENDALE................. 25 GEOFF LIGHTFOOT
IN a highly competitive and entertaining game at Rudding Lane, Rossendale were unable to counter a second half fight back by Harrogate who took the honours 36-25.
Rossendale had led 17-22 at the interval but three tries for no reply after the break sent the east Lancashire side back across the Pennines without even a losing bonus point and put the Yorkshire outfit above them in the North Premier table.
Harrogate were first to score and took a 7-0 lead with a try from Luke Wilson converted by Nathan Wyman.
Rossendale replied with a penalty from Lewis Allen and went ahead through a try from Lewis Pattinson following some slick handling across the back line and a 25 metre burst from Phil Mills who found Pattinson coming up in support on the inside, Allen adding the conversion.
Harrogate struck back with a try from Matt Lamsdall to restore their lead before a try by Don Waring from a scrum and a break by Jack Ward with Allen providing the vital link put Rossendale ahead again, Allen once more slotting the conversion.
A try from Ollie Rossillo levelled matters at 17-17 but a break by Curtiss Strong and a 30 metre dash from George Peel got Ward over to give the visitors a 17-22 lead at half time.
In the second period Harrogate began to wrest some control and took the lead for a third time from a second try for Edwards converted by Wyman.
Lewis again with a penalty restored the advantage but two further tries from Rossillo and a conversion by Wyman sealed the win for Yorkshire side. ●● Jack Ward was among Rossendale’s try scorers