Rossendale scored from a loose maul straight from the kick off and with good hands from James Bramhall and Sam Atiola, Curtis Strong came up on the inside from full back to take the scoring pass.

It was from a loose maul again that the home side brought up the second, Reece Tomlinson putting Ryan McKibbin over. Steve Nutt added the conversion with a penalty affording the home side a 15-0 lead.

Ilkley got their side the scoreboard going with a penalty from Joe Rowntree but a push over from a scrum close to the visitors line got McKibbin in for his second for 20-3 at the interval.

From a scrum penalty and a pick up by McKibbin, Bramhall and Atiola got George Peel over for the bonus score, Nutt again on hand with the conversion.

Atiola who had already had a part in setting up the scoring managed one for himself again off a pick up by McKibbin and a break by Tom Jones, the winger appearing from nowhere to coast in for a well deserved effort, Nutt adding the extras.

Ilkey however hit back with tries from Pat Power, Aaron McGee and Rob Reckless and with Rowntree converting two, Rossendale were forced to fight off a possible come back.

Geoff Lightfoot