Semi finals are all about winning , and if we did it ugly then so be it ....Hic

Well as the title suggests there wasn't really very much to write home about during the course of this game except the fact that we won the semi final and are now representing Rossendale RUFC in the Lancashire trophy final. There is no point in beating about the bush. It wasn't pretty for much of the game , in fact it was pretty awful at times a point not lost on your good selves who all realise and acknowledge our failings of the day. We had some banter about the things we did wrong . There are always bad days at the office and hopefully our systems are cleansed of the demons that we displayed today. Its good that we recognize our negatives and yet we won this game with plenty to spare.
It all started in the usual fashion with that strange dude ranting and raving on the touchline and doing his war dance at our indiscretions. After being heavily mocked by the partisan crowd he settled down and did try to give some positive feedback to the lads , at least the phone stayed in his pocket.
Jordan opened the scoring. A lovely piece of centre play from the Campbell held the ball up showing it off to the defensive line, draw and pass and Jordan graciously accepted the gift. Will posted the extras with a delightful conversion.
Plenty of opportunities in attack where then wasted with dropped passes and slow reactions around the breakdowns. A couple of hundred years ago the whole Glossop side would of been sent to the penal ( I said penal) colonies of Australia such was the extent they stole the ball from us at the rucks.
Author now remembers some more positives in the shape of Tom Unsworth and Ciaran Campbells touchdowns. Both were from some superb attacking rugby with handling and offloading skills at their best. So at half time the lads turned around at 17-0 up with little to worry about in a lot of respects. They were dominating the game despite constantly losing possession of the ball at the rucks and playing dropsy. Cut out the mistakes and respect our ball retention came the cry.
But no. You had your own ideas and the coach is now having a pacemaker fitted. What seemed bad in the first half became even worse in the second. Glossop took the upperhand and capitalised on our errors scoring a try in the corner.
It really was backs to the wall stuff and it seemed that we had switched off . Our desire and commitment flagged and it felt that we had almost given up the cause for a short time.
A bit of composure came back to the team ( wish it could be said the same for the touchline commander) and we put together some nice phases of play resulting in Mr Wilby jinxing his way over for a much needed score with Will again converting the score.
Hang on a second while I just refill my glass....hic..
Next up was Mark. A superb 70 yarder ( as the crow flies but probably 100 yards with the weaving he did)individual effort through I think the whole Glossop team to finish the game off . Both Mark and Jordan had threatened to do just this throughout the game with some big hard runs challenging the Glossop defense . Mark looks very comfortable in this second row position and I'm more than happy having someone with the speed he has to use it to good effect as he does from this position. Hang on ..is that more positives from this game. I must be mellowing as the home brew takes effect.
The game finished early with a head injury to Peely. I think we would of had a few more on the board had it not. Blame Peely who apart from the likely black eye he will be sporting was soon back on form in the club with a beer.. ahem.. dandelion and burdoch and left over hog roast.
The only other thing I can think of note was the speed at which Callum Jackson operates. No not around the ruck but when the celebratory crate came out in the dressing room . I have never seen anybody move as quickly to grab a can. Maybe we will have to train with a can of lager in the future rather than a rugby ball. Also Henry Higgins was on time, nay early !!! How many more positives are there from the day :). So the win is the win chaps. It is what it is. We are there in the final and that's all that counts. I'm made up with the result, hope you are to.

Man of the Match
Jordan Fortune. Made some strong busty runs , a wonderful reverse pass to create one of our tries and a tackle that was as hard as ive ever seen in the first half.

Epilogue
Thanks to the Glossop lads for the game today. Played in good spirit and they kept on till the end. They have some skillfull players and a great kicker. Sad that some of their players let them down ( Cup semi final and lads cant get out of bed . What the .....!!! ) Obviously have high ambition for their lives ahead.
Thanks to our lads for putting the blue jerseys on to play up against us and ensure we all got good game time. Great from the Glossop coaches to acknowledge their effort as well. Callum Jackson ..Hic. A big thanks to Olly Molloy from the 16s who turned out for Glossop in the second half but never got on the Rossendale side. Sorry about that but you played well and its great to see the effort you made.
Thanks to the Rossendale team for another memorable day and the supporters who keep pushing you on.
All the beshhht ..hic