SANDAL 23 ROSSENDALE 32

Wins on the other side of the Pennines are never easy to come by but a combination of dominant forward play and incisive running in the backs ensured that the east Lancashire side returned with maximum points.

A penalty from Steve Nutt opened the scoring and it was Nutt again with a neat kick through from half way that set up the first try. Sam Atiola came onto the ball down the wing before finding Curtis Strong coming up in support on the inside to take the scoring pass, Nutt adding the conversion.

Sandal got onto the score board with a penalty from Greg Wood cancelled out as Nutt replied in kind.
With the Rossendale pack continuing to dominate, turn over ball at a scrum was picked up by Ryan McKibbin. Jack Ward broke the line and with Duncan Tout providing the link, Atiola went over for the second, Nutt slotting the conversion for 3-20 at the interval.

A second penalty from Wood brought the home side another three points but again from a turn over of a scrum 20 metres out McKibbin put James Bramhall away, the No8 then supporting on the inside to go in for the third, Nutt again on target.
Sandal began to come back with tries from Ollie Fox converted by Wood and Ben Gledhill reducing the Rossendale advantage to nine points.

Yet with the visitors pack always in charge, McKibbin picked up again from the back of the scrum and with Nick Flynn, Ward and Tout also involved, George Peel went over for the bonus score.

Sandal refused to capitulate and got Dave Martin over unfortunately the conversion went wide denying the Yorkshire side of a losing bonus point.

Geoff Lightfoot