Strong finish on return for Seconds

LAST Saturday saw a welcome return to the rugby field for the Rossendale RUFC Second team in their first competitive run out in what felt like and ultimately was an age.

The extended period of absence brought about by a combination of factors including spare weekends, weather and Covid-related issues hadn’t done the team any favours with momentum lost from the first few months of the season.

There was a fairly substantial change in personnel available for the trip to

Burnage.

Dale did however welcome back some familiar old faces from times gone by as well as seeing some younger lads stepping up from the junior ranks of the club.

The first half of the game is probably one that was best forgot.

The new look side and the pace of the game perhaps caught one or two out and Burnage racked up the points.

The second half was a completely different matter. Rossendale settled into the game and started to show the team spirit that was very much evident through the initial stages of the season and gave them a veritable reputation against opposition teams.

Tries through the second half by Nathan Connolly, James Willets and the Colt Tyler Johnson were added to by Josh Clamp with two conversions and a penalty. It was Burnage who were perhaps more relieved to see the game end despite them walking away with a 69-22 scoreline in their favour.

A big shout out to both James Willetts and Tyler Johnson for their performances on their debuts for the team whilst Tom Earnshaw and Matt Jackson contributed superbly with workmanlike efforts.

The seconds are at home next Saturday against high riding Fylde.