Beverley v Rossendale

Not only did they produce a fantastic performance and regain much needed confidence they completely destroyed a good Beverly team and take all 5 points.

If this game had been a boxing match then the referee would have stopped it at half time, it was that one sided. However it nearly turned into a boxing match with the ref making bad decisions at the break down area, with complete guesswork.

The fact that Beverly were getting battered and the ref not keeping up with play took nothing away from how well Dale played. With 2 defeats on the bounce Dale had worked hard all week on defence and keeping hold of ball.

It was the defence that probably won them the game because from minute one they knocked down any Beverley players within sight.

Dale played all the first half in the Beverly 22 and when Paddy Pole opened the scoring with a typical bull dozing run there was only going to be one result. The only time Beverley did get out of their half, they scored a try through the centre against the run of play but with Dale well fired up and on top of their game, they again scored through Roger Dennison and then Leyton Taylor. Bramhall added a penalty to take Dale into half time 18 – 7.

Dale had played all the rugby and looked like they could score at will, the forwards were again far too powerful for their opponents and the back line were causing huge problems for the defence with some slick moves and hard direct running.

The second half started with Dale again causing problems for the home team and when Nathan Settle scored a well worked try down the blind side followed by another Leyton Taylor try, the game was as good as one.
Dale were playing the best game of the season to date, with the forwards rucking with great success and producing quick go forward ball for the backs. Set pieces were going well and again putting the backs well over the gain line. The backs were producing some great play, attacking from deep at pace and with real purpose.

Dale were now up 30 – 7, and with the Beverley players and supporters well shell shocked from the pure dominance of Dale, they were all losing their heads and when Dale scored again through James Bramhall to make it 37 – 7, it was getting embarrassing.

At this stage Dale had their 5 points and a much needed win. Beverley scored a few late try’s to completely flatten the score line. Final score 26 – 37.

Dale were magnificent today in every aspect of their game. They outplayed Beverley from 1 – 15 for every single minute and more importantly played with great pride and passion. Dale have to now go and produce that kind of rugby every week had hopefully fly up the table.
Paddy Pole and Matt Mackenzie were tremendous again leading from the front. Danny Collins had a great game in mid field and Nathan Settle, Roger Dennison and Ali Harper are getting better and better with every single game in the back three.

Team; Roger Dennison, Nathan Settle, Jonny Appleton, Danny Collins, Ali Harper, James Bramhall, Jamie Albinson, Paddy Pole, Matt Mackenzie, Johan Goosen, Mark Ellinor, Tim Fourie, Danny Greenhaulgh, Paul Keys, Leyton Taylor, Subs, Ian Marshall, Andy Dauncey