Derby travelled to Moorgate Avenue for the first fixture between the two clubs at senior level. The weather was atrocious for the whole game with driving rain, but the pitch stood up to the game remarkably well – kudos to the team overseeing the pitch preparation.
Having experienced two chastening defeats so far, the Rochdale team were determined to put these behind them and look for their first league victory of the season. The game started with the Derby team putting the Rochdale defence under severe pressure. After only 5 minutes, Derby won a line out about 15 metres out on the left-hand side. The ball was taken cleanly at the 2nd attempt of the line out, a rolling maul was started that Rochdale were unable to stop, and a try was scored in the left-hand corner by the visiting forwards (0-5).
From the restart, the ball was knocked on by Rochdale, but the smaller home set of forwards were able to take the resultant scrum ‘against the head’ and as they worked the ball upfield, they were awarded a penalty. The pattern of the play by both sides was interrupted, not unsurprisingly given the bad weather conditions, by a number of knock-ons as the ball at times resembled a bar of wet soap. Rochdale’s progress was stopped once again by the Deby defence and when the visiting fly half put another high relieving kick up, it reached Schofield who went off on one of his trademark jinxing runs, only stopped when once again a penalty was awarded. After 20 minutes, following a good crossfield move by both the forwards and backs, the ball found its way to Kershaw who squeezed in at the corner for Rochdale’s first try (5-5). After 23 minutes, following continuous pressure by Derby inside the Rochdale half, they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts just outside the 22-metre line and Bingham put the kick over and between the posts (5-8).
After 27 minutes, following 2 consecutive penalties awarded to them, the home forwards won the line out, got a rolling maul going for Hayes to score Rochdale’s 2nd try that was converted by Collins (12-8). The rest of the half was mostly spent in the home half as Derby used their larger player sizes to try to batter through the Rochdale defences. This was unsuccessful until the 38th minute when Derby scored their 2nd try that was converted by Bingham (12-15). But Rochdale were not to be denied again… In the 40th minute, following a penalty awarded to the home team, Collins stepped up to put the ball through the posts to leave the half time score 15-15 and with all to play for both sides.
The 2nd half saw the weather conditions get worse and it was to both teams credit that they still played rugby of a decent level. Defences were definitely to the fore and despite pressure being exerted by both teams’ defences, there was no further score until the 70th minute when following another penalty, Collins once again stepped up to put the ball through the posts (18-15). The final 3 to 4 minutes saw Derby camped inside the Rochdale 22-metre and then 5-metre line. Try as they might, the Rochdale defence was magnificent in repelling the visitors’ continuous attempts to cross the try line.
In conclusion, and once again not for the first time with this Rochdale team, their defence was exemplary in repelling a much bigger side and it is to be hoped that this result will spur them on for success in future games in this Level 5 league. A final mention must go to the referee, who had a very good game and kept the game moving wherever possible.
There being no game next Saturday, Rochdale will travel to Huddersfield on 4th October.