Rossendale welcomed Fylde to Marl Pits for the last home game before the Festive break. Despite not giving up they found themselves second best in all aspects of the game. The visitors were first on the score board with a try on the left wing. The conversion drifted wide and the score was nil-5. Dale came straight back and were awarded a penalty in front of the posts which Dan Holland gratefully accepted 3-5.

Fylde were next on the score board. Dale lost their lineout, the ball was shipped out quickly to the right wing. Holland was deemed to have tackled a man without the ball, a penalty try was awarded and Holland received a yellow card. The score was now 3-12. The visitors made the numerical advantage stick scoring a third try again on the left wing. The conversion was missed and the score 3-17.

Dale came back with a try of their own. The ball was won well out on the right wing before being passed quickly through the back line, rather than being kicked, before reaching Junior S‘au out on the left wing who dived over in the corner. Callum Whelan’s conversion from the touchline was good reducing the deficit to 10-17.

Having got themselves back in the game an error at a line out gave the visitor a scrum close to the line. They won the ball and managed to squeeze themselves over the line for a bonus point try. The conversion was good. 10-24.

Dale were then put under the cosh with the visitors mounting a sustained period of pressure. Despite some sterling defence, Dale were unable to keep them at bay and a further try came again down the left wing. The conversion was missed and the half time score became 10-29.
Dale started the second half well, retaining the ball and pressuring the Fylde try line. However, they were unable to force themselves over. Fylde won the ball back and following numerous phases of play got down to the bottom end, showing Dale how to finish off scoring a further try. The conversion was good and the score went out to 10-36.

Shortly after, Whelan received a yellow card for his part in an off the ball scuffle, where strangely his fellow pugilist got away Scott free.
Unlike Dale’s failure to make the most of their numerical advantage last week the visitors showed them how to do it running in a further 3 converted tries leaving the final score 10-57.

Despite battling hard and showing some promise in parts there is still a lot of work to be done if they are to extricate themselves from the relegation battle.

Phil Johnson