Injury problems continued to bite deep for Dale this week, with Joe Horne and Ben Kershaw being the latest casualties, so Dale named five changes for the trip to a Manchester side they’ve found difficult to beat away. Prop Dougie Poole returned to the front row, Will Simmons took to the wing, Dec Connor joined the pack, and Jack Holt and Dan Bentham offered fresh legs from the bench.
From the kick-off, Manchester looked for an early breakthrough, earning a penalty scrum on Dale’s 22. Yet Dale’s forwards stood firm, drove over the ball and turned possession. A deep kick from Steve Collins then carried play into opposition territory, and after a neat short throw Poole powered over for the first try. Collins’ conversion put Dale 7–0 ahead inside six minutes.
Manchester hit back when a slick back-line move sent their winger in at the corner, though the conversion drifted wide and the score read 7–5 after 15 minutes. Dale restored their cushion in style when Collins and Dom Serridge carried play deep into Manchester’s half. Another dominant scrum presented Poole with his second try, and Collins converted for a 14–5 lead.
With lineouts and scrums firmly under control, Dale turned pressure into points once more. A penalty on the 22 unlocked a great passing move that ended with young winger Gabe Fraser cruising in to score. The kick went just wide but Dale went into halftime 19–5 up.
Manchester brought in an impressive 6’8” second-row and a fresh kicker at half-time, and the momentum shifted immediately. Their winger crashed over after a good passing move and, following a second try under the posts, the home side had edged to 19–17 by the hour mark.
Dale dug deep. Following a fantastic break from Josh Schofield, Dale were awarded a penalty, which Collins coolly converted to make it 22–17. Switching to shorter line-out throws helped regain their rhythm, but a few handling slips allowed Manchester back in. Their centre barged over to level at 22–22 with 15 minutes left.
Both sides threw everything at the game’s final stages, but it was Manchester who found the decisive score under the posts. The easy conversion sealed a 29–22 win for the home side.
Dale can take pride in a spirited display—and at least they secured the losing bonus point. Next Saturday they welcome Bowden to Moorgate Avenue (kick-off 3 pm).