Rossendale Senior Colts 10 - 0 Manchester Senior Colts

With Rossendale’s first team without a game last weekend, it was the club’s in form senior colts who took centre stage in the first round of the Lancashire Colts Cup.

The valley side were up against a side currently joint top of the Colts League’s A division and had an excellent pedigree. This never fazed the Rossendale team and they used it to their advantage as their undoubted superior desire and heart won them the contest. A strong wind blew diagonally across the pitch and together with a wet surface made conditions difficult for both sides.

Playing down hill in the first half it was the home side who dominated possession and territory. After ten minutes fly half Will Sharratt muscled his way over following some good approach work. The blowing gale saw his conversion missed but saw Dale on the front foot. Further inspired running from prop Jordan Lord and centre Jack Bibby, who ran fully fifty meters from near his own line, further underlined Rossendale’s ability and potential. Sharratt added a second try in similar fashion to his first and earned his team a well earned 10 point lead. They never looked like relinquishing the lead for one second.

Throughout the second half they maintained their dogged determination forcing Manchester into mistakes and never let them threaten their lead. The introduction of replacements from the bench, these being junior colts, maintained the momentum and all of them never looked out of place. The second half petered out with a lots of infringements and handling errors giving the match official plenty of practice at his whistle blowing. Nevertheless Rossendale’s victory was never in doubt given their hunger and intensity throughout the game.

This was a magnificent victory for the team and just showed them what they are capable of. This Sunday they turn their attention back to their league campaign when they travel to take on Glossop and Marple.