Vale of Lune Tournament (LYMM)

LYMM 0 - 15 Rossendale

The final pool game was against a Lymm second string team who's first team went on to be the eventual winners of the tournament. Again this fixture was against another top level side.

Rossendale limped to this game with one of the team in hospital having x-rays glad for Sean Campbell all was ok just battered and bruised. a massive message of thanks must go to the Vale of Lune Competition committee for the effective way this was all dealt with.

Also Ellis Murray in a sling with a bruised shoulder and Kieron Pearson spending 25 minutes prior to the game with an ice pack on his knee.

But not to let the squad down the team went onto the field and were up for it.

Rossendale immediately applied pressure towards the Lymm Line but we got turned over. Their fly half put a huge kick towards touch, Nathan Tattersall struggling to get back in to postion due to th massive kick had to carry out the hardest skill of all. Running backwards flat out and taking a high ball over his shoulder. The cheer for such a fine individual bit of skill was the loudest of the day. But no this was not enough for Nathan who then turned around got into top gear and left a trail of Lymm Players scattered over the pitch. The first tackle he broke was the biggest of the Lymm forwards which resulted in the vociferous Rossendale support to go mad. If there had of been a roof they would have lifted it. Just as a note to all Nathan was out all Saturday afternoon with his dad passing and catching a true mark of dedication and the improvement is there for all to see.

The pressure from this run resulted in a ruck where Will Gledhill took control of a loose ball to cut through the Lymm defence for a try.

From the kick off Joe Saunders made some good yards crashing through a few tackle to open up somespace fo Oliver Molloy to barge over for a great try.

The second half started very similar to the first Rossendale were dominating all forward exchanges giving the backs some good quick ball whih eventually led to my Man of the Tournament George Allen to go over the line for a fine try.

This was at last the win that was so richly deserved against another good side. Ithink had the eventual winners Lymm been in opur group we could have beaten them. Well what happened to Manchester they must have been batterd and bruised after playing against a physical Rosssendale team.

Firstly if i have not named anyone let me just say everyone of you played to such a level that the best sides in Lancashire are now wanting fixtures with us. so next season with our stregthened fixture list it will not be long before the scalp of a major team is taken.

Secondly Forwards after reading back through these reports it may seem to you that it was all about the backs. It was far from that you forwards put your body on the line in every game. I dont recal a scrum all Tournament that we lost. You will have heard me use this statement before but it is so true "Forwards win Games but the backs decide by ho many.

A big thanks must go to the travelling support from all the parents.

Also a massive amount of thanks must go to Vale Of Lune for the way in which they so smoothly ran these competition. Cant wait for next years invite.