Rossendale Senior Colts 62 - 10 Oxton Parkonians Senior Colts

After the disappointment of the previous week at Tarleton, there was a quiet confidence in the Rossendale camp as they took on an under-strength Parkonians side. Rossendale had a reasonably sized bench, so were able to lend a few players to ensure the game took place and that the lads could enjoy a game of rugby. Rossendale started the game strongly, and were immediately pushing into the visitors' territory with excellent play through the phases. A well executed catch and drive around half way, followed by another driving maul saw Rossendale get into the twenty-two before Parkonians infringed to give Dale a penalty. A good link up from a charging run from Jordan Fortune saw Alex Kilshaw feed Mark Rutherford-Shaw who almost made it to the line before Parkonians infringed again. From the set piece move, Tom Unsworth jinked his way over to score, with Henry Wilby adding the extras. Almost immediately though, Parkonians struck back and scored a try of their own and settled the visitors for a period. Dale's next try came when the ball squirted out of a Parkonians scrum, and Ben Ludlam was first to react as he gathered the loose ball and sprinted through to score, again converted by Henry Wilby. Dale kept the pressure on from the restart and returned immediately into Parkonians territory with Morgan Cornell driving in before Dominic Martin finished it off with his first score. Another try came soon afterwards with a superb display of quick recycling and quick hands, involving Morgan Cornell, Henry Wilby, Jordan Fortune, Tom Unsworth, Alex Kilshaw and finished with a try from Idrees Nazir, with Henry Wilby adding the extras. Parkonians scored another try before the half closed Rossendale 26-10 Oxton Parkonians.

The second half saw Parkonians tiring and Rossendale exploiting the gaps that had started to appear in the defence. The first try of the half came after a Parkonians free kick was fielded by Ben Whitehead in his own half, after which he spotted a gap and lit the afterburners to sprint half the length of the pitch to score, with Henry Wilby adding the conversion. Tom Unsworth and Idree Nazir both bagged a second try as Rossendale started to enjoy their dominance. A surging run from Jordan Fortune from a penalty mid way allowed him to fire the ball out wide to open up a try for Callum Pelling, converted by Henry Wilby. Morgan Cornell almost got himself on the scoresheet after catching the restart and running about sixty metres before being hauled down just short of the line, but Isaac Cornwall was on hand to take the offload and go over to score. The last score of the game from a good clearance kick chased and collected by Callum Pelling to grab his second try, again with Henry Wilby getting the conversion and ending the game Rossendale 62-10 Oxton Parkonians. At no point did the Parkonians lads let their heads drop, and played with spirit and commitment throughout.

The coaching staff from both sides would like to give a huge thanks to Jacob Taylor, Cole Lanigan, Ben Whitehead, Callum Jackson, Henry Higgins and Max Lyth for all playing a half for the opposition and offer congratulations to Alex Kilshaw who gave one of his best performances at scrum half, communicating well and managing the set pieces and the breakdown.