Rossendale 48-27 Cleckheaton

In preparation for next season, Rossendale played a combined U16s/U17s game against our old friends Cleckheaton on a lovely sunny day at Mart Pits. As always with Cleckheaton, it was a keenly contested affair played in the very best of spirits and both teams put on a superb display of rugby, mixing some hard driving with fast running and free-flowing to entertain the large crowd. Rossendale won the game 48-27, but the scoreline does not reflect that the two sides were more evenly matched.

Rossendale started very brightly, moving quickly up the pitch and applying pressure onto Cleckheaton, but the visitors soon snuffed out the attack and entered a period of about twenty five minutes where neither side could get the upper hand. It was actually Cleckheaton that broke the deadlock after stealing the ball at the breakdown and moving it quickly across the backline and in to score. Rossendale soon made amends after a strong driving maul made good progress up the pitch, recycling the ball quickly to allow Mark Rutherford-Shaw in to score, with Jordan Fortune adding the extras. Rossendale almost scored again soon afterwards, when Jacob Taylor sprinted down the wing, then drove the three defenders trying to tackle him over the line, but was unable to ground the ball. Rossendale were successful from the resulting five metre scrum though, with Theo Balshaw receiving the ball and driving over to score. Cleckheaton almost scored again with a lightning run down the wing, but Jacob Taylor executed a try-saving tackle to prevent it. However, with the last play of the half, Cleckheaton did manage to score another try, to end the first half Rossendale 12-10 Cleckheaton.

With the deceptive slope now in Rossendale's favour, they started the second half with a period of sustained pressure that was well defended by Cleckheaton, but eventually Theo Balshaw went over to score his second. A few minutes later. Jordan Fortune smashed through two defenders and sprinted into the Cleckheaton twenty-two before being hauled down, but Will Walmsley was on hand to receive the offload and run over to score, with Jordan Fortune converting. Rossendale scored again immediately, when Mark Rutherford-Shaw fielded the restart kick and made a strong run through the first line of defenders before the ball went across the backs and enabled Jacob Taylor to score. Cleckheaton hit back with another try after exploiting a hole in Rossendale's defensive line and playing some neat rugby to stretch the defence and score down the left. Jacob Taylor was on the scoreboard again soon afterwards after a penalty move saw the ball end up in his hands with an easy sprint over the line. Theo Balshaw bagged his hat-trick after a series of quick phases soaked up defenders and created the space for him to score, with Will Walmsley adding the extras. Jordon Fortune scored Dale's final try with a seventy metre gallop down the field, and added the conversion to his own try. However Cleckheaton had not laid down; they went on to score two further tries before the game ended Rossendale 48-27 Cleckheaton.

Jordon Fortune was awarded Rossendale's Man of the Match after an energetic and aggressive performance all over the field.

Thanks to all of the Cleckheaton lads, coaches and spectators for coming over for the enjoyable game - it gave us the opportunity to see what next season will hold.... and it looks bright....