Rochdale 47 Old Crossleyans 17
Several changes in the Rochdale line up with Ross Hartley coming in at hooker and a start for William Simmonds in the centre. The game kicked off at 2pm on the hill pitch as the normal 1st team pitch was frozen in parts. A good size crowd was on hand and Dale did not disappoint putting pressure on the visitors from the start with Tom Hesketh making a good break only to lose the ball in the tackle 10 metres out. Dale had a penalty when 5 metres out the visitors were penalized at the scrum and then again defending their line Steve Collins made a nice jinking run and set up scrum half Danny Joesbury to score the 1st try the conversion hit the upright so 5-0. Crossleyans made good passing moves and stretched the Dale defence and when the ball went wide the winger went over for the equalizing try well converted 5-7.
Dale won a penalty and from the line out the ball was well taken by returning Chis Hodgkinson came to Ethan Poole who got close but was guilty of a forward pass. The ball was stolen by Ross Hartley and came back to Collins who jinked his way in for a converted try 12-7. The game ebbed and flowed with the visitors making good runs and Dale defending well with Dec Conner and Harry Hill putting in a good shift around the scrums but with half an hour gone Crossleyans were awarded a penalty for a line out infringement and the kick took the score to 12-10. The Rochdale backs were in good form especially tight on the lines where Cliff Howard and Bill Simmonds linked well with captain Josh Schofield who with a final flick pass found Howard who slid past the last defender to score.
Collins made light of the blustery conditions to add the extras 19-10. Just as Dale seemed to be nudging in front a series of penalties saw them defending in the red zone and after a late tackle hooker Ross Hartley was yellow carded, a tap and go penalty and the big 2nd row Banham was in for a converted try 19-17 as half time approached only a great tackle by Schofield saved a certain try and there seemed to be a very tight 2nd half in prospect.
A deep re-start from Collins was dropped by the Crossleyans fly half and Dale took possession on their 22 Collins now found the dangerous Declan Conner who made good yards and had Donnelly in support the ball came back to Collins who chipped over the defenders and followed his kick to feed Hesketh who went over for the bonus points try 26-17.
The visitors were never out of the game and only the usual solid Dale defence kept them out. Oli Bland came on for Chris Hodgkinson who had pulled a calf muscle and solid play from the pack maintained the lead some heavy tackles by the visitors led to two more yellow cards left gaps in their defence and when Danny Joesbury who was having a great game intercepted a pass on the 10metre line no one could stop him getting his 2nd try of the afternoon converted by Collins 33-17. The Crossleyans defenders became increasingly desperate and when Howard skipped round from the wing he was cynically pulled down on the line by a high tackle the Referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try and producing a third yellow card 40-17. Now back to 13 men the visitors were being completely overrun when sub.Riley Milsom got the ball wide on the left and cut inside to score Rochdale’s 7th try of the match leaving the final score 47-17 Collins getting six conversions in an excellent personal performance.
With Bradford Salem going down 44-0 Dale took top spot and look to a good performance at Goole next Saturday to consolidate their lead, coach leaves at 11.00 am.
David Rhodes R.R.U.F.C.