The Rossendale Under 11's Band Wagon Keeps Rolling

The Rossendale Band Wagon Keeps Rolling

West Park St Helens were the visitors to Marl Pitts this weekend and came with confidence of a winning side. Still unbeaten this season The Dale Under 11’s are full of confidence as well. Despite being depleted in numbers and as many as four key players missing they were well up to take the fight to any opposition. Atmosphere around the pitch could sense that this was not going to be a game for the faint hearted.

West Park kicked off in confident spirit playing some attractive rugby behind a solid scrum and physical rucking and the West Park backs started to run the ball hard and punching some holes in the Rossendale’s defence but for some last ditch tackling kept the attacks at bay.

The Rossendale team have been working really hard on defence and the importance of how defence can win games. This really started to shine through and from a turn over ball, won through some quick positive thinking by scrum Half George Allen set Joe Simpson on his way for a powerful try converted by Oliver Molloy.

This seemed to settle the Rossendale team and there was some end to end rugby to be enjoyed by the big crowd. This was an evenly matched contest played in good spirit by both sides. Although with both sides determined to get the win and both set of supporters cheering each team on the game seemed to come to boiling point with a few indiscretions from both sides tempers on the field boiled. The referee had warned both sides for high tackles and Rossendale no nonsense approach was good to see taking the game into their own hands and starting to dictate the play.

As the first half drew to a close an attack from Rossendale resulted in a turn over from which West Park broke the Rossendale defence to score a fine try this was converted.

At half time with the game finely balanced at 7 each it was obvious that the next score would be crucial to the outcome of the game. The Rossendale team turned on the pressure and still could not break the West Parks Solid defence the game went from end to end and the vociferous West Supporters got behind their team who were now playing some fine Rugby but could not break the Rossendale defence. The Rossendale defence was spear headed by some big tackles from Oliver Molloy, Joe Simpson, Natasha & Shaun Smallridge. It was really good to see new recruit Aidan Hopkinson really getting involved with some really good work for the second week running to again win himself the most improved player award.

The game then changed and with Shaun Smallridge being yellow carded for a high tackle the Rossendale team had to scrap for their lives defend, defend, defend but deep in their own half managed to secure a turn over ball which was passed out to the backs for Oliver Molloy to drive his way over for a fine try which he converted himself.

At this point it appeared that all was going to go Rossendale’s way with the West Park side contesting every decision that the referee gave and their supporters doing the same. The Smarter thinking Rossendale Team had realised that the game had turned and they were now in the better position to see out the game. In which they did as the West Park players tired from the ferocious tackling, the tackles got bigger this performance was turning into the biggest performance of the season.

Kieran Pearson came on for ten minutes after a six week layoff through a knee injury which was really good to see and got into the game as if he hadn’t been away. George Allen was at the fore front of all things positive turning over ball with regular occurrence, Nathan Tattersall, Jude Ferrie, Ellis Murray,Ben Flanagan,Alex Kilshaw and Jonny Cobbett all put in big performances for the second week running which is started to show what a good side this is becoming. Whilst this was far from the best performance of running rugby it was a hard fought win which is showing that we can mix it with the best.

All in all a great result a close fought game against a big Club. Good Physical performances don’t happen by luck and again this is a result of your dedicated training.

I am certain West Park whilst coming second best today will fancy their chances of a change of result later in the season but the Rossendale coaching team think that this side have a lot more to offer.
Great Result Lads and Natasha well done and still undefeated this season.