Rossendale ring changes and run in 44 Points

This early season training match saw Rossendale U14’s take on Eccles in a fierce contest. But it was Eccles that started the better in the sunshine and a succession of missed tackles by the Rossendale side saw Eccles run in for their first try. Another bout of missed tackles again saw Eccles over the whitewash. This time Jeremy Darrell who was playing for the opposition scored the try from a lovely break to see Eccles 14-0 up in the first 5 minutes.

A worrying start but Rossendale were quickly on the front foot as George Allen broke quickly from the back of a scrum and a resulting play saw him ship the ball to Oliver Molloy who stepped his way through to score. Another well worked try soon followed which was started in Rossendale's 22 by Theo Balshaw and after a continuation of breaks by the team, Oliver Molloy ran in for his second try. Rossendale were now narrowly behind 14-12.

Rossendale began to look the better of the two sides at this point with solid tackling from the likes of Shaun Smallridge and hard running from Joe Simpson which put Rossendale on the front foot. The Dale scrum was also dominant and good hooking by Derek Bulling saw Dale winning a turn over off Eccles ball and earning a penalty in the process.

This control continued as Rossendale won Eccles ball from a lineout and after a darting run by Will Gledhill, George Allen scored from a snipe to put the Dale side ahead. Another try soon followed, this time a wonderful team effort with the likes of Harry Todd, Joe Simpson and Shaun Smallridge making solid carries before quick hands by the backs resulted in Josh Howarth scoring his first try in Dale colours. Rossendale were now leading 22-14.

The Dale lad Jeremy Darrell was ever present whilst on loan to Eccles causing all sorts of problems forhis Dale team mates in his loose play and just before half time Eccles posed more questions of the Dale defence as they ran in a relatively easy try under the sticks to finish the half a point behind Dale 22-21.

The second half saw Jeremy Darrell and Quinn Smethurst switch teams. From the kick off Rossendale started the brighter and a try soon came as Will Gledhill put Oliver Molloy in for a simply score on the blindside to make it 27-21. Disappointedly another spell of missed tackles resulted in a score for Eccles as they took the lead 28-27.

Rossendale kept calm and it paid off as a try which involved a dazzling run through the heart of the defence by Josh Howarth was finished of accurately by Matthew Derbyshire who darted round his opposite number for a try to make it 32-28.

Rossendale further applied the pressure when Kieron Pearson hooked a ball against the head and after several passes Josh Howarth burst through a gap to put the visitors 37-28 ahead. A combination of successive tackles by George Allen and Kieron Pearson and a brilliant turnover by Jeremy Darrell almost resulted in another score. A scuffle between two teams resulted in a yellow card for Joe Simpson and an Eccles player.

The game finished in good spirits for Rossendale as another try this time by Will Gledhill and converted by Shaun Smallridge put them out of site with the score finishing at 44-28 to the Rhino's.

My man of the match was Jeremy Darrellwho played excellently for both teams and really excelled in the loose today. Some other stand out performances came from Oliver Molloy, George Allen, Shaun Smallridge and Josh Howarth. Rossendale looked really exciting when in attack today but were lacklustre in defence and have a lot to work on going into next week.

A Big Thank you from the coaches to Kieran Allen for the Match Report.