HUDDERSFIELD YMCA 11 ROSSENDALE 16

With hooker Tom Allen injured in the warm up and others picking up knocks during the course of the game this turned out to be a well worked and satisfying win for the east Lancashire side and keeps them still in touch of a top four finish.

'YM' opened the scoring with a penalty from Simon Wilson but with the visitors beginning to come more into the game, a scrum 22 metres out and some great handling across the line, the pace of the ball through the hands created the space and the opportunity for George Peel to go in for the first try.

It was from again a scrum that the visitors went over for their second, creative interpassing between backs and forwards putting the opposition on the back foot for Jordan Lord to power his way over from short range for 3-10 at the interval.

'YM' hit back in the second half with a try by Sam Hodge to close the gap to two points but two penalties from Steve Nutt both forced due to the pressure on the Huddersfield defence eased matters despite a late penalty by Wilson after Danny Collins had been shown a yellow card.

Geoff Lightfoot