ROSSENDALE 8 WIRRAL 24

Having not won a game since 8th December this was a game they had targeted as a win. That they left the field with just a losing bonus point in a match they really should have won will now give cause for concern.

With just seven fixtures remaining before the end of the season they may be well away from the danger zone by 21 points but losing like winning can become a habit and that is something they need to get out of their system as the competition moves into its closing stages.

Rossendale were first on the scoreboard with a try from Matt Blackman on the back of some concerted forward play and a superb miss pass from Jack Ward out to the winger who went over in the corner.

With the weather playing a major part in proceedings Wirral hit back with a try from Rob Pearl, the conversion from Jimmy Annetts affording the visitors a 5-7 lead at the interval.

In the second half with little flowing rugby on offer Wirral forced a penalty try and although the home side tried to get back into it they had to be content with a solitary penalty from Lewis Allen to secure the losing bonus point.

Geoff Lightfoot