ROSSENDALE 89 FIRWOOD WATERLOO 12

Yet this was a Rossendale side full of confidence against a team just a pale shadow of their former selves.

Rossendale were soon racking up the points with a try from Nick Flynn the pack man driven over by the pressure from behind. Steve Nutt added the conversion before Sam Atiola used his pace to coast in for the second again Nutt adding the extras.

Waterloo came into the reckoning at this stage with a try and conversion from Liam Reeve who picked up his own kick through as he went under the posts but with Curtis Strong looking to have free reign coming into the line from full back to cross for the third, the home side were well on their way.

Tom Jones secured the bonus point and with Jack Ward, Jordan Lord coming up on the inside to support a break by George Peel following a kick through by Nutt and Strong in for his second with Nutt kicking two more conversions, Rossendale went in 43-12 ahead at the interval after Waterloo had picked up a second try through Matt Crow, the winger going almost full length following an interception.

There was to be no let up after the break as good hands gave Peel a chance to go over for his first of two tries.

Dominic Moon using guile from the back of a scrum joined the party with Nick Flynn in for his second before Alex Isherwood and James Bramhall, benefitting from a break by Nutt brought up the twelve.

Strong powered in for his hattrick with Fraser Lindsay and Peel making up the fifteen.

Bramhall who had taken over kicking duties slotted four more conversions.

Geoff Lightfoot