Morley 10 - 5 Rossendale

3/10/9

National Division 3 (North)

Morley 10 – 5 Rossendale

Once again the sun shone on Rossendale in the latest National 3 encounter, but this week the elements produced winds of typhoon proportions – blowing straight down the pitch at Scatcherd Lane. This was definately going to be a game of 2 halves.

Dale won the toss and elected to use the elements in the 1st period. The opening encounters proved evenly matched as the home side showed their intent to use width in attack and Dale displayed their defensive commitment, limiting the home sides’ attacks to mere thrusts into Rossendale territory. And Rossendale were restricted to use of their slow ball options as the home defence pushed the offside line to the limit and refused to allow the visitors any kind of “clean” ball that they could utilise the elements with. So Dale were forced to pick up from the base of the scrum and work through the hard yards using Pole and Collins as battering rams into the stern home defence. On the one occasion the ball was delivered quickly to DeJager he deftly chipped into the corner and gave Dale the territorial advantage they needed. Pressure on the resulting lineout forced the home team to scramble a clearance that fell well short of its’ intended mark due to the prevalent gale, and gift Rossendale a real attacking opportunity inside the home 22. Dale took full advantage of this as Crisp bludgeoned his way through Darbyshire, Dadswell and Bradshaw, after taking a clever catch at the lineout, to score the opening points in the corner. 0 – 5

The conditions thwarted the conversion. 0 – 5

The restart saw Morley raise their game and they “threw everything including the kitchen sink” at the resolute Rossendale, Battye and Benson orchestrating a series of attacks which drove deep into the Dale half but were snuffed out by more gritty defence from the visitors. And so the half finished, Dale in the lead and the ascendant – but still with plenty in the tank.

HT 0 – 5

From the off, the home team showed their hand – pinning Dale into their own 22 with a series of crafty chips, testing new fullback Peter Roberts fully. Rossendale in turn played some of their best rugby to date. Grinding out hard yards again both close to the breakdown and in the midfield. To their credit Morley used the conditions well and every chance that came their way punished Dale and kicked them into defensive situations. And it was from just such that Morleys’ opening score came, after winning their lineout ball just inside the Rossendale 22, Morley drove the ensuing maul. And were awarded a penalty try after Dale were deemed guilty, by referee Lazenby, of collapsing the Morley maul. 5 – 5

Bradshaw was on target for the conversion. 7 – 5

But true to form Rossendale set about chasing the game directly from the kick off, and pressured the home team into their own 22 but failed time and again to produce rewards for their endeavour. Morley playing the same tune in their game – pin ‘em back – and as the game moved towards its’ close were awarded a penalty as Dales frustrations spilled over. Again Bradshaw hit his mark. 10 – 5

This was an eagerly contested game with both sides producing some exciting rugby, but Morley were probably the more tactically astute team as reflected in the score but Dale will take heart from this game – it being an improvement on the previous performance and a determined defensive display against a high flying senior team who put 51 points past local rivals Rochdale at Rochdale last weekend.

Quote MJB

“A performance to take heart from, the manner in which the whole team applied itself to the difficult second half task was a measure of what this team is capable of. We took a point from a fixture that was always going to be one of the tougher games in this league and left Morley with the respect which to date we haven’t commanded. The same message as always applies though – We are capable of more and will work tirelessly to that end. I thought the penalty try was a little harsh but after speaking with Mr. Lazenby can’t argue with his interpretation of the situation – however we mustn’t forget that Morley failed to actually score a try against us, and that in itself stands testament to the commitment and efforts of this Dale team.”

Quote Dave Wood
“A much improved performance which could have gone either way. A little more composure is required in critical areas of the pitch and we’ll be on the right side of these close scorelines.”

Please phone Danny Collins for further comment gents…. Fanx M