MACCLESFIELD 36 ROSSENDALE 60

The North East Lancashire side ran in eight tries but in conceding six there are obviously issues with the defence and the inability to keep fifteen players on the pitch for a full 80 minutes. Four yellow cards were dealt out with the visitors at one stage reduced to thirteen. Calum Whelan was dispatched in the opening half for a high tackle with Ben Stephens, Tom Bedlow and Byron McGuigan shown yellow in the second. Against stronger opposition that profligacy could prove problematic.

Rossendale opened well with a try for Byron McGuigan, the winger taking a cross kick from Lewis Allen to go in at the corner, Allen also adding the conversion.

From a free kick inside the Macclesfield ‘22’ John Tuia drove the ball forward with a neat pass sending the supporting Whelan in under the posts, Allen again on target with an easy conversion.

The home side came into contention with a try from Phil Laing but from a break by Danny Solomona Sam Lothian was put away beating two would be defenders on his way under the posts. Allen landed the extras and with two penalties the visitors enjoyed a 0-27 lead coming up to the interval.

With Rossendale down to fourteen John O’Donnell nipped in for the home sides second but a break by Tuia got McGuigan over for his second and the bonus try, Allen kicking the conversion to close the half Rossendale 10-34 ahead.

Macclesfield were first on the scoreboard in the second period through a try from Brendan Berry before Zac Stephens hitting the line at pace from full back scorched in for the fifth.

A dropped ball inside the home side’s ten metre area was scooped up by Charlie Murray who put Jake Edge-Spedding through the gap for the sixth.

Simon Meek added so credibility to claim a bonus point for the Cheshire outfit converted by Harry Oliver but with Rossendale now in almost total control Allen taking a pass ‘out the back door’ from Solomona went in under the posts.

With the visitors now down to thirteen the home side took advantage to get James Oliver and Harry Oliver over with the outside half also slotting the conversion.

However, Rossendale had the final say with a second try from Stephens this time the full back popping up wide out to race down the touchline to cross in the corner, final three conversions all slotted by Allen.

Rossendale have no game this coming Saturday but return to action on 4th November at home to Stockport.
Geoff Lightfoot