With three clubs due to go down at the end of the season and Morpeth and Ilkley already looking likely candidates, there are four clubs just above, Carlisle, Rossendale, Alnwick and Wirral with just one point between them. Competition to avoid the drop could not be much tighter with winnning a must and try or losing bonus points very critical with just nine games to go before the end of the season.

It was not the best of weather with the elements certainly mitigating against open flowing rugby, all the scores bar one coming in the opening half.

Lymm were first to put on the board with an interception by Nathan Beesley bringing the first try.

Rossendale hit back with a try from Damon Hall, the winger chipping ahead before collecting his own ball to level matters at 5-5.

Lymm added a second through Cormack Nolan, the full back also slotting the conversion and with Steve Pilkington pouncing on a Rossendale mistake in mid-field to cross for a third also converted by Nolan, Lymm enjoyed a 5-19 lead.

Rossendale came again and with Tom Bedlow neatly slipping his man in the middle of the park, the centre pulled a try back for the home side, Lewis Allen adding the conversion.

Unfortunately Lymm notched up a fourth for the bonus point and with Nolan tagging on the extras the Cheshire side held a 12-26 lead.
Yet Rossendale refused to concede and with Ben O'Ryan,on loan from Fylde, charging down a clearance to go over for his side's third again converted by Allen, Rossendale went in at the interval trailing 19-26.

The second half was a somewhat drab affair with defences and the weather on top with a penalty from Nolan providing the only points of the half.

Rossendale have now to really start picking up points if they are to stay in this league and although they have a difficult visit to Blaydon next week they have enough games left to see them through to safety.

Geoff Lightfoot