Rossendale under 8s grow up in tough encounter with Bury in the mud and sleet

Welcome to Spring - nice last week, wasn't it - but the weather was pretty much as my last report at Sale on 3 December, we arrived to snow and 1 degree, and lots of parents hoping we could nip over to Haslingden gym !
Bury turned up with a strong side and it was always going to be a tough challenge - first outdoor match for 3 months, but the team showed that they have made a massive step forward. Let's be really clear here - the game was a toughly fought ( quite literally) contest with both teams giving no quarter in cold and sapping conditions - and a draw, at 8 tries apiece, was a fair reflection of effort and commitment by both sides. However, let's focus on the Rossendale team because the entire group bonded together to play their best match of the season - no one individual could claim a man of the match because genuinely it was a group show.We saw well constructed restarts, strong powerful running, unselfish passing, tremendous support play, great cover defence , well organised defensive lines and loads of encouragement for each other. There were 8 excellent tries , none being straight runaways, but all hard earned and well won by good link and support play. Jason (Wilkbob) Wilkinson played his best game of the season and was everywhere, always in the action and scored 2 great tries, Dan (DJ) Stevens contributed his almost customary 3 tries, the second of which powered through a number of players seemingly intent on removing his shirt - Tom Leech showed electrifying pace and footwork to also score twice and Ieuan Bissell, who had an excellent game throughout, showed great awareness to be on the shoulder of the tagged person to score. But we also saw " wrecking ball" surges from captain for the day Rowan Tweedale and Freya Rawcliffe and continuous driving running and passing from Thomas Whitaker. The team was completed by Michael Bailey and Luke Entwistle - Luke made a brave challenge and was unfortunately unable to complete the game, but it says a lot for the team that they played for the second half with a man short, no complaints but bags of spirit. The team also showed strong solidarity and discipline amid a number of disappointing flashpoints in an ill tempered atmosphere which peppered the whole match and is probably best left at that.
So , let's build further from here , and take the learnings into our next match - away at West Park , what price sunshine, daffodils and the hint of warmth ?

Meanwhile, the under 7 encounter offered the novelty of a referee with a Thomas the Tank Engine whistle - don't ask - and maybe we were caught a little cold as Bury surged into a 3-0 lead. However as Rossendale regrouped and hit their stride , a try right on the half time whistle managed to reignite morale. In the second half, the Rossendale defence was better organised and the final score of 3-5 to Bury represented a creditable recovery. Captain Tyler Lusty made a series of strong runs and bagged one of the tries , the others coming from Jack Tracey and the nimble footed Charlie Leah. As with the under 8 performance , a promising team effort offering much on which to build in the coming weeks. Join us next week !!