Sandal 11 - 19 Rossendale

Last season's trip to Sandal bore no fruit as Dale were overturned convincingly. However, this fixture leaves Dale putting pressure on the top of the table after triumphing 19-11 in, arguably, one of the toughest away fixtures in the league.

Still smarting from the previous fortnight, losing away to Beverley, Dale came out fighting. Their enthusiasm and energy was matched by the willingness to attack from any area of the pitch from the home side Sandal. Within minutes, a penalty conceded in front of Dale's sticks gave first blood to Sandal with a sweetly struck kick from the tee.

Dale's retort was clinical and direct. A powerful line break from prop forward Leighton Taylor put the valley side on the front foot. Good forward play ensued around the fringes; a surge from Tim Fourie close to the line set the platform for Johan Goosen to drive over the line for the first try of the game. Fly half Stephen Nutt added the extras from wide left of the posts.

The away side were in the ascendancy and continued to threaten the Sandal line. Even when overlaps were squandered, powerful running put Dale close to scoring nearly ever possession. Towards the latter stages of the half, a trademark Paddy Pole pick and go, from close range, lead to another score. Stephen Nutt failed to add the extras and subsequently a penalty to keep the scoreboard ticking.

The final try of the half, and Dale's final of the game came from more sustained pressure and patience. A strong lineout close to the sandal line set Leighton Taylor running at pace. He was held up short but the patient play lead to experienced Tim Fourie barging over, sliding beneath the would be tackler to dive over the line. A change in goal kicker worked for Dale; full back Will Sharratt slotted over the extras.

The half time team talk, designed to inspire and motivate players to turn things around or continue the dominance, worked against Dale. The second half was plagued with mis-demeanours from the valley side.

Pressure, immediately placed on them and sustained by a much energise Sandal side. Danny Greenhalgh spent a stint in the sin bin for foul play forcing Dale to rearrange to provide a full front row. He was later joined by Danny Collins for tackling the lifting man in the lineout. Sandal were forced, by strong defence - even with 13 men, to take the points on offer from yet another penalty. However, Dale finally conceded a try, 3 minutes later, from sheer lack of numbers on the open side. Sandals young winger stepping through to touch down.

Scrappy play and injuries were the name of the game for a defensive Dale side. Even with limited possession, the Dale side tried to close the game out. A tackle off the ball on scrum half Jamie Albinson led to a scrap, where Sandal's try scorer found himself spending the remainder of the game off the pitch from a straight red card for a punch. Sandal then retained good territory right until the final whistle. Sandal were attacking hard and chasing the game - only stern defence from Dale denied the home side a losing bonus point.

The Dale side can go into a well deserved Christmas break after winning 9 from their last 10 games.