Dale made it three wins on the bounce with maximum points, climbing to seventh in the table after a blustery battle at Blackburn.
Facing a fierce headwind, Dale struck early. A smart lineout move sent Dougie Poole over after five minutes, before Dom Serridge sliced through for try number two. Josh Schofield powered in for a third, giving Dale a commanding 15–0 lead. Blackburn responded with a penalty and a late first‑half try, closing the gap to 15–10 at the break.
With the wind now behind them, Dale took control. Steve Collins slotted an early penalty, then added a superb solo try—converting it himself—to stretch the lead to 30–10. Another Collins penalty made it 33–10 before Blackburn grabbed a consolation score.
A strong team performance, with standout carries from Ben Sunderland, solid defence from Eddie Shanks and Ben Coulter, and a near miss from Ben Kershaw in the corner.
Final score: 33–17. A five‑star showing, and Dale sit seventh with one game left at Wirral.
— David Rhodes, R.R.U.F.C.
