ROSSENDALE 27 MANCHESTER 5

That defeat at The Memorial Ground could prove costly as with just three regular fixtures remaining the East Lancashire side not only need to take maximum points but must rely on league leaders Macclesfield slipping up and that appears highly unlikely looking at the remaining fixtures especially with the Cheshire side three points ahead in the table.

On a heavy pitch, certainly not conducive to running rugby, Rossendale took the early score with a try from Johnny Leota, the centre on the end of a move set up by power play from the home pack.

The visitors hit back with a try from Zac Sbiuwie before a penalty from Lewis Allen sent the home side in at the interval 8-5 to the good,
The second period was dominated by the Rossendale pack with a drive deep into the Manchester ‘22’ creating the opportunity for Zac Stephens to come up on the outside from full back to latch onto some swift hands across the line, Allen adding the conversion.

From a line out inside the opposition half Harrison Dakin tucked in behind the maul went over for a third.

The heavy ground was of more benefit to the home side and from a penalty line out five metres out, several drives to the line allowed scrum half Calum Whelan to drop on the ball to claim the bonus try, Allen again on target with the extras.

Rossendale have no match this coming Saturday but will return to action the following week away at Northwich before rounding off their league programme at home to Sandbach and away at Wirral.

Macclesfield by contrast have Anselmians at home, Kendal away and finish with Penrith at home.

As the table stands at the moment Macclesfield look set for promotion with Rossendale in second spot. At the foot of the table Northwich, Sandbach and Leek are still engaged in a relegation ‘dog fight’ with just one point separating the three sides.

Geoff Lightfoot