On a bright autumnal day Rossendale hosted Stockport at Marl Pits in their first home game of the season. Both teams had enjoyed high scoring victories in round one and with perfect playing conditions an exciting encounter was on the cards. Dale playing uphill in the first half immediately took the game to the visitors and were first on the scoreboard with a try from Alex Ropeti. Dale broke quickly down the left wing with Ropeti exchanging passes with winger Terence Babarinsa before diving over for the try. Will Hunt’s conversion was good and Dae had an early lead 7-0.

Dale continued to exert pressure on Port’s defence, but a number of handling errors proved costly and they were unable to convert the pressure into points. Having weathered the early storm, the visitors got their game together and came back strongly at Dale. Exploiting a gap in midfield they drove forward quickly and scored just to the left of the posts. The kick was good and we were all square at 7 all.
Worse was to come with Port winning a line out on the right, the ball was kicked cross field to the left with the Stockport attacker winning the race to the ball scoring wide left. The conversion drifted wide but the visitors were ahead 7-12.

The visitors put Dale under some consistent pressure resulting in a yellow card for Joe Taira. Port made the numerical advantage pay scoring a third try from the ensuing scrum. Again, the conversion was missed, but the visitors had extended their lead to 7-17.

For all their early pressure Dale failed to score the points, but Port having 3 visits to the Dale line scored on each occasion. Dale needed to get themselves back in the game quickly. Unfortunately, a pass was intercepted by the visitor’s number 8 on the half way line and he raced away to score just to the right of the posts. The conversion was good and Port now lead 7-24.

Right on halftime Port won a scrum penalty deep in Dale’s half. They chose to kick for goal. The kick was good and at half time the visitors deservedly lead 7-27.

Dale now playing downhill were chasing the game and needed to score early to put the pressure back on a well drilled Stockport outfit. However, a dropped pass in front of the visitor’s posts resulted in the ball being kicked clear. It was further booted up the hill and the chasing Port player was first to get his hand on the ball, putting the game well out of Dale’s reach. The conversion was successful, 7-34.

Dale eventually got themselves on the scoreboard with a try from Mark Ioane. A penalty for Dale was kicked deep down the right wing and from the lineout and subsequent catch and drive Ioane went over. The conversion from Hunt drifted wide left and the score was now 12-34.
Port had an opportunity to extend their lead with a penalty, but the kick drifted wide. Dale then got back on the front foot. A break from Sam Bedlow in midfield around the half way line allowed him time the slip the ball to Junior Nuu who broke through would be tackles before offloading to Brendan Berry who dived over to the right of the posts. Hunt’s conversion was good and the score was now 19-34 with 10 minutes to go.

Dale then secured a point from a fourth try following another catch and dive try. This time it was Jack Wilkinson going over for his third of the season. Hunt’s conversion was good leaving the score 26-34.

Time was running out and Port had the last laugh converting a penalty on the stroke of full time leaving the score 26-37.

Dale will look to get back to winning ways next week wen they take on near neighbours Rochdale at Marl Pits, kick off 3pm.

Phil Johnson