Positives in double defeats for Rossy

PRESTON G’HOPPERS..26 ROSSENDALE .............. 6

IT does not get any easier – league leaders Otley at home the previous week and second place Preston Grasshoppers away last Saturday have both given Rossendale some food for thought.

However, despite the two defeats there is much that the Marl Pits side can take from both these games.

They know that they can compete and they have a goodly group of youngsters coming up through the ranks.

Lightfoot Green has become something of a fortress this season with the occupants still to concede on their own patch.

With the visitors weakened by injuries and short on six regulars, Rossendale fielded a young side with a number of former colts drafted in.

Yet looking at some of the home side’s past results to limit the opposition to just 26 points was an achievement of shear determination to make a game of it against a heavy yet mobile pack and a fleet and skilful backline well use to the artificial surface.

Two penalties from Liam McGovern to a try for PGH from Jake Squirrel converted by Tom Walker allowed the visitors to go in at the break just a point adrift at 7-6.

The second period saw the home side pull away with further tries from Chris Taylor, Sam Gale and Toby Harrison with Walker adding two more conversions.

Rossendale are at home to Macclesfield this coming Saturday kick off 2.15pm.