ROSSENDALE 17 BILLINGHAM 11
There are no easy games at this end of the table and last Saturday was a case in point, the honours going to second place in N3N Rossendale 17-10 over fourth place Billingham.
Rossendale were slow to start and allowed the visitors to take an 0-8 lead through a penalty from Peter Evans and a try by Tom Briggs.
As the half wore on Rossendale came more into the game and following a penalty from Steve Nutt, Rossendale drove an attacking scrum 15 meters out over for their opening try. Ryan McKibbin claimed the honours and with Nutt slotting the conversion Rossendale went in at the break 10-8 ahead.
The second half was equally as tight with defences on top but with the Rossendale pack beginning to have the edge, a series of three scrums either wheeled or dropped by the opposition forced the penalty try, Nutt of course adding the conversion to afford his side a 17-8 lead.
Billingham came again but were unable to get through a very well organised and tight Rossendale defence and needed a late penalty from Evan to secure a losing bonus point.
Geoff Lightfoot
Team Sponsors