Rossendale hosted near neighbours Preston Grasshoppers in the first of two back-to-back Lancashire derbies. Dale started well, but were unable to break through the visitor’s defence and it was Hoppers who were first on the score board. They won a scrum on the left and, despite what appeared to the home crowd to be a knock on by the fly half, the ball was quickly passed out to the right wing where the attacking forward went over close to the corner flag. The conversion from the touch line drifted wide leaving the score 0-5.

Dale seemed to be penalised with annoying regularity and, following what was deemed a high tackle, Sam Bedlow was shown a yellow card. Shortly after Dale were penalised on their own scrum and the visitors worked the ball wide right again going over by the corner flag. This time the kicker added the extras, 0-12.

Not to be down hearted Dale took the game back to the visitors, but were unable to break through. They eventually got over the try line, but were held up, allowing Hoppers to clear their lines. Dale continued to press forwards, but were held at bay. It took a moment of individual magic from Keiran Tyrer who sent a grubber kick under the posts, chased it down himself and was first to the ball. Krisnan Inu converted and Dale were back in the game at 7-12.

With Bedlow back on the park, Dale continued pressuring the visitor’s defence. Dale stole a Hopper’s line out and the ball was passed back to Bedlow. A cross-field kick from him from left to right dropped just over the try line. Bodies fell upon it and after consultation with the assistant referee it was confirmed George Stephens got his hand on the ball and the try was given. Inu’s conversion drifted wide, but we were all square at 12 all.

Dale were now beginning to get into gear. A good break from Terence Babarinsa starting mid-way in his own half pushed Dale forward. Following his trademark pirouette to elude two defenders he made his way into the opposition’s half before offloading. Dale had numerical advantage down the left, but were unable to get the final pass off and the attack was snuffed out. Despite the mounting pressure there were no further additions to the score board and at half time we were still all square.

After around 8 minutes into the second half Dale were penalised just inside their own half. Hoppers kicked deep down the right wing. They secured ball from the resulting line out. It was slipped out to the right and they snook over the line for their third try. The conversion was good and Hoppers were back in the lead at 12-19.

Dale playing up hill, but with the breeze behind them continued to press forward. The pressure forced Hoppers into a defensive error not throwing straight from a line out and Dale were awarded a scrum around the 22. The ball was picked up by Mark Ioane at number 8, he broke through to tackles and made his way over the try line. Inu added the extras and once again we were all square at 19 all with 20 minutes to play.

With around 10 minutes to play Inu was adjudged to have obstructed a Hoppers attacker chasing his own grubber kick. The offence was right in front of the posts and in view of the tight nature of the game they chose to kick for goal. It was successful and the score was 19-22.
Within minutes Dale were penalised once again in their own half. Hoppers kicked for goal and the lead extended to 19-25.

There were around 7 minutes left to play and a converted try would see the hosts sneak a victory. A good break forward allowed Dale to break down the left, but again the final pass did not go to hand and the chance went begging. Dale then spent the remainder of the game camped upon the visitor’s try line. They were held at bay with some legal and sometimes illegal defence, during which time Hoppers were penalised on no less than 4 occasions. Despite the penalty count no one was spoken to nor was a card produced. After over 10 minutes of pressure Dale were penalised on their own scrum allowing Hoppers to kick for touch to end the game with the score at 19-25, giving Dale a losing bonus point.

Next week Dale travel to Fylde hoping to secure a much-needed win. The bottom of the table is very tight with 7 points separating the bottom 4.

Phil Johnson