After last week’s resounding win against Sandal Rossendale were brought back to earth with a home defeat to a lively DMP who overall played the better rugby on the day.

Playing with the elements in the first half the Rossendale pack scored a well worked push over try from a line out prop Ian Marshall getting the credit. This was converted by fly half Sharratt who also kicked three well taken penalties.

Unfortunately Rossendale were unable to add to this sixteen point tally and they also let DMP in for a try turning round 16 points to 10 up but with only a 4 point advantage that was unlikely to be enough.

The second half saw the Rossendale pack camped in the opposition twenty two for a full fifteen minutes but they were unable to breach a stout DMP defence.

Perhaps not surprisingly DMP then visibly gained in confidence and their talented backs ran the ball well to score two late tries to give the opposition a victory they just about deserved.

This was an uncharacteristically lacklustre performance from Rossendale who failed to take the chances they created.

This Saturday Rossendale travel to league newcomers Burnage who will also have the advantage of playing on their artificial surface