Rossendale Senior Colts 41-0 Sedgley Park

Rossendale welcomed local rivals Sedgley Park to Marl Pits and put on quite a display of rugby whilst the sun shone, with most of the game played in the visitors' half. Whilst the poor decision making of the last few games appeared again in the first quarter, the Dale lads composed themselves and really started to apply the pressure. The forwards were physical and dominant from the outset and, across the whole field, good defensive speed and structure preventing Sedgley park from getting on the scoreboard.

The first twenty minutes saw Rossendale camped firmly in Sedgley's half but several incorrect decisions meant that the attacks were snuffed out. However, after a series of phases with the forwards hitting the ball up hard, the Dale pack crossed the whitewash but a determined Sedgley defence prevented the ball being touched down. However, they couldn't keep the home side out for much longer, as Jordan Fortune peeled off from the resulting five metre scrum, crashed into the defence then popped a pass to Ciaran Campbell running a direct line, who went over to score. Joe Bedlow added the conversion. Jordan Fortune started and ended the move for the next score, after picking up from the base of the scrum, making ground before passing to Idrees Nazir, then through the hands of Alex Kilshaw, Oliver Molloy and back to Jordan Fortune to go over to score. With no more scores, the first half ended Rossendale 12-0 Sedgley Park.

After a positive half-time team talk, Dale restarted with urgency and pressurised Sedgley Park in their half. A long clearance kick was collected by Tom Unsworth, who set out on a weaving run back into the visitors' territory before feeding Oliver Molloy who blasted past the scrambling defence to score. Sedgley Park kept coming back at Rossendale, but the defence held firm with good tackling, despite a period of poor discipline giving Sedgley Park the opportunity to make territory after Dale conceded a number of penalties. Soon afterwards, Dale were on the scoreboard again after a scrum saw a quick ball out to Will Walmsley, who spotted a gap in the defence and darted through to score., with Joe Bedlow adding the extras. Dale's next try was a little fortuitous, after a clearance kick was sliced and gathered by Will Peel who sprinted over to score in the corner. The sixth try came from a lineout around half-way, gathered cleanly by Mark Rutherford-Shaw, and driven up by Jordan Fortune, before Idrees Nazir took the ball and ran hard and fast through the stretched defence to score. The final play of the game saw Rossendale score from a penalty, with Mark Rutherford-Shaw smashing into the defence, before offloading to Ciaran Campbell who sprinted over to score his second and end the game Rossendale 41-0 Sedgley Park.

Rossendale's Man of the Match went to Ciaran Campbell for a determined display against his old team and for the nice brace of tries that he bagged. Next week sees Rossendale head over to Tarleton in what is likely to be the decider for the league top-spot.

Garry's photos are here -> https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/rossendalerufc/photos/senior-colts-v-sedgley-park-775639.html

Malcolm's video is here -> https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/rossendalerufc/videos/20171008-rossendale-senior-colts-v-sedgeley-park-116940.html