As the season begins to unfold Rossendale travelled to another of the top four sides, Darlington Mowdem Park who play at the former Darlington FC 20,000-seater stadium. Dale started brightly and went ahead courtesy of a penalty by Dan Holland.

The hosts took the lead on 10 minutes. The ball was chipped over the Dale defensive line, collected and then slipped out to a supporting attacker who dived over for the opening try. The conversion was successful leaving the score 7-3. Not to be disheartened Dale took the game back to Darlington. The hosts were penalised for a deliberate knock on, Dale kicked to the corner and from the ensuing line out the ball found its way to Terence Babarinsa, playing today at 10, who executed his trademark pirouette before diving over to the left of the sticks. Holland added the extras leaving the score 7-10.

On 23 minutes Roko Davui received a yellow card for jumping into his opposite number leaving Dale down to 14 men. Worse was to come when Nick Fontaine was the recipient of the referee’s second yellow card. Dale had conceded a number of penalties in the red zone and having been warned about their indiscretions, so Fontaine was duly sent on his way. Dale were now down to 13.

The hosts took full advantage of their numerical supremacy throwing the ball out wide and scoring their second try. The conversion was successful leaving the score 14-10. Shortly after the lead was further extended with another converted try. 21-10.

Dale were then awarded a penalty following a high tackle which Holland slotted over leaving the score 21-13. The home side then scored a bonus point try. The ball was kicked though and chased down with Callum Whelan in close attendance for Dale. As the ball rolled over the line both players dived for it. It was unclear to the spectators who got the final touch, but the officials, after a short conflab, deemed it was a Park hand on the ball. The conversion was successful and Park extended their lead to 28-13. To make matters worse Dale were stripped of the ball whilst attacking on the halfway line leaving a Park second row to run in a fifth try. The kick again was good leaving the score 35-13 at half time.

The hosts were now confidently throwing the ball round and scored a sixth converted try just after the restart leaving the score 42-13.
Having been shown to yellow cards in the first half the next was a red. Toko Cama was adjudged to have executed a tip tackle to which the referee brandished a straight red. Dale would now have to play the last 30 minutes with 14 men.

It was not long after this dismissal that the hosts scored again following a strong scrum on the 5-metre line. The conversion was missed. 47-13. To their credit Dale did not give up and continued to attack. However mid-way into Park’s half a short pass in the Dale midfield was intercepted and ran in under the sticks extending the host’s lead to 54-13.

Despite this Dale kept pressing forward and following a strong passage of play the ball found its way to Blair Hastie who crashed over to the left of the posts. Holland’s kick was good leaving the score 54-20. Dale then scored again. The ball was won at a line out on the 5-metre line, it was passed to substitute prop Edward Shekete who crashed his way towards the try line. He was stopped short but Dale managed to retain the ball and get it out to Olli Spencer who dived over to the left of the posts. Holland converted. This was to be the final play of the game and the result was 54-27.

Phil Johnson