The damp and cold conditions mitigated against much open rugby but with Stockport battling hard from the kick off it took the home side a full twenty minutes before they could get their noses in front, a lead which they held right through to the final whistle.
With most of the action centred around the pack it was from a tap penalty on the visitors ‘22’ which led to the opening from Liam Canning the second row breaking through to cross near the posts, Lewis Allen slotting the conversion.

With Stockport still making life difficult it took the half hour for the East Lancashire side to add a second Tom Bedlow on the end of a series drives and an incursion inside by Byron McGuigan for scrum half with a neat reverse pass to send the centre over the line, Allen again on target with the conversion.

A poor drop ‘22’ drop out by Stockport created the opportunity for Rossendale to notch up a third as Zac Stephens cruised into the line from full back to add a third. Allen landed the conversion to give the home side a 21-0 lead at the interval.
A penalty for Stockport kicked by Ewan Holt opened the second half but with the extra fitness of the home side beginning to tell Matt Lamprey picked up from the back of an attacking scrum close to the Stockport line to crash over for the fourth and the bonus point, Allen left with an easy conversion.

Ben Stephens brough up the fifth the back rower on the end of a pass from Lamprey who had picked up from the back of a scrum.
Stockport added to their tally with a try from Calum Owen, Holt adding the extras.

However the final act belonged to the Lancashire side with substitute scrum half Cameron Crompton taking a quick tap to send Lamprey over for his second, Allen again on hand with the conversion.

The result keeps Rossendale in second place in Regional One North West with Blackburn in pole position and still the only undefeated side in the league following their 64-17 win at home to Penrith.

This coming Saturday Rossendale are away to 5th place Manchester who went down 24 -12 away to Sandbach.

Geoff Lightfoot