Four-try Rochdale win admirers despite defeat

Macclesfield RUFC 50 Rochdale 26 RUFC

Rochdale travelled to a sunny Priory Park to face an undefeated Macclesfield side, with several players, including Joe Horne, unavailable, adding to their list of injuries.

Before the game head coach Steve Collins talked about this injury roller coaster and how impressed he’s been with the players who have step-up. He expressed how well the team is bonding and his pride in the Dale performances, especially considering the size difference faced.

Collins set his targets on a minimum of a try bonus point and thinks if Rochdale can survive the almost inevitable last quarter pressure onslaught, then we could achieve more.

The first half started well for the visitors until a high kick found the Macclesfield winger, who cut in for a try next to the posts. The conversion was badly missed, making it 5-0 after 10 minutes.

Rochdale bounced back well, as they always do, and it was Dougie Poole who, following a rare Dale penalty and a line-out on the Macclesfield 10-metre line, battered his way over to make it 5-5 after the conversion hit the upright.

Danny Joesbury was forced off at this point with a finger injury. Yet another penalty, this time at the scrum, meant the penalty count now stood at 8-2 in favour of the home side.

Rochdale defended well until a scrum in front of their posts was seen to be infringed. From the resulting tap-and-go, the Macclesfield second row crashed over by the posts. There was no mistake with the conversion, making it 12-5 to Macclesfield after 25 minutes.

Rochdale again took the game to the home side and, after a superb passing move, Paddy O'Loughlin went over for Dale's second try, converted by Dom Serridge, to level the score at 12-12.

On the half-hour, Macclesfield sneaked another try after a series of free-kicks, with the penalty count now 12-2 in their favour. The score was now 19-12, but Dale was still well in the game until the Macclesfield full-back broke through the visitors' defence to score a fine solo try and make it 24-12.

As half-time approached, after a scrum on the Dale 22, the Macclesfield centre carved an opening to score a fifth try. Again, the conversion was missed, leaving the score at 29-12.

Rochdale’s Joe Donnelly was next on the scoresheet with another well-taken breakaway try, converted by Serridge after a great cross-field kick from Steve Collins. The half-time score of 29-19 was very creditable, with Macclesfield knowing they were in a game.

The second half began with Poole restored at prop, but the penalties against Dale continued. A good passing move by the home side from halfway nearly resulted in a score, but the final pass to the winger, who had open field ahead of him, was dropped.

Rochdale had the next score as a deep penalty kick by Collins led to a line-out in the Macclesfield 22. The ball was well taken by Ben Sunderland, and Donnelly was unstoppable as he crashed over by the posts. Serridge converted to leave the score at 29-26, the closest Dale would come. The fourth try also secured a valuable bonus point, Dale's seventh of the season so far.

Rochdale won a scrum on their own 22 and a good box kick from Collins took play back into the Macclesfield 22. However, another penalty for offside saw play return to the Dale 22, and from a well-executed line-out, Macclesfield crossed for another converted try to make it 36-26.

Rochdale fought back well and had plenty of possession, but poor handling in midfield led to a strong counter-attack by the home side. Yet another penalty, with the count now standing at 16-4 to Macclesfield, allowed them to cross again for a converted try and extend their lead to 43-26.

With 10 minutes remaining, Rochdale was defending well when the referee produced the first yellow card of the day for Josh Schofield, who had played well in both defence and attack.

The loss of a player proved too much for Dale and, from a line-out, Macclesfield worked the ball wide for the full-back to race through for their eighth try. The conversion made the final score 50-26.

Rochdale scored four tries once again and kept in-touch with Macclesfield throughout the game. But pressure in the last quarter and the high penalty count proved too much against the experienced Macclesfield side.

The league leaders knew they had been in a game and many of their supporters commented afterwards on Dale's resilience and attractive attacking style.

After the match Collins said he couldn’t have asked for me and awarded the player of the match to Joe Donnelly, with Dan Bentham running a close second.