Darlington Mowden Park v Rossendale

This turned out to be a cracking game with both teams wanting to play open fast rugby, and probably a 20 - 20 draw was the right result.
Dale will feel that they could have snatched this one thou, as with 6 minutes to go they were leading 20 – 6, only to be denied by 2 late DMP tries.

Dale took a while to get going and fell behind to a well taken drop goal. However, playing the ball quickly away from the contact area and moving the ball with width Dale scored some brilliant tries through Paddy Pole, Danny Collins and Jamie Albinson. Bramhall managed to convert 1 conversion.

Ball in hand Dale look a very good side, with the big runners picking good lines and running from depth with pace and easily getting over the gain line.

With the wind playing to Dales advantage in the first half we played the ball in the right areas and managed to keep the ball away from DMP and slowed them down a wee bit. However Dale could have been a bit more clinical in their opponents 22 and, looking back, Dale must feel that they could, and should, have scored two more tries and maybe close the game out before half time.

Dale knew that DMP can play good rugby and it was vital that we scored first in the second half to keep them at distance. However, from kick off they scored from their own line to make the score 8 – 17 and Game On.

Dale only had a Bramhall penalty to shout about but played some decent rugby and looked pretty good in most areas of the game, and with time running out looked as if they were going to take away 4 points away from home and against a very good team.

Poor decision making and very poor discipline however denied Dale all the points and played right into DMP hands as with 6 minutes to go and playing with 2 men in the sin bin DMP scored 2 fine tries and saved the game for them.

It’s always hard to take and after the game we felt that we had lost the game, however we should be very proud of our effects because for most of the game we played really well and stuck to our game plan and patterns. The weather never helps and it’s the same for both sides but finger crossed we can get some games under our belts and climb the table.

Team; Roger Dennison, Ali Harper, Tom Albinson, Dave Wood, Nathan Settle, James Bramhall, Jamie Albinson, Danny Collins, Andy Dauncey, Johan Goosen, Tim Fourie, Paddy Pole, Danny Greenhaulgh, Paul Keys, Ian Marshall, Subs, Leyton Taylor, Grant Eddlestone, Danny Harrison