With five of their regular first team players Phil Mills, Tom Bedlow, Sam Greenwood, Jake Foster and Dominic Moon, who has yet to play this season, out injured Rossendale suffered a second consecutive defeat going down 14-30 at home to Sandal.

It was close for most of the '80' but with the home side leading at 14-10 deep into the second half, and seemingly in with a chance, three tries in quick succession by the visitors took the game away leaving the east Lancashire side ruing what might have been.

Sandal opened up with a penalty, a try and conversion from Greg Wood to take a 0-10 half time advantage.

Rossendale came back strongly early in the second period with from a neat kick through by Lewis Allen, Curtis Strong pounced on a defensive error by Sandal to bring his side into the game, Allen also slotting the conversion.

It was Allen again but this time the try scorer with good ball from the restart fed out by James Bramhall to set the centre away leaving would be defenders in his wake to score a superb solo try, Allen also adding the conversion for a 14-10 lead.

Unfortunately a penalty by Wood and tries from James Ellar with two and Nick Carolan converted by Wood sealed the game in the Yorkshire sides' favour.

Despite the injuries some good news for the club is that Tom Allen who has been out since the beginning of the season returned to action with the Seconds and should be available for selection away at Lymm this coming Saturday.

Geoff Lightfoot