Well deserved victory

Rossendale, short of players, gladly accepted Bolton’s offer of 2 forwards and many thanks to them for that offer to ensure everyone got a full game. Rowan Hopkinson got the game underway with a well placed kick giving his forwards time to follow up and slow down the Bolton distribution.

There followed an intense period of play with possession swaying from one side to the other as a series of fiercely contested rucks won the ball firstly for one side, then the other allowing little time for the either side to settle. Eventually a knock on by Rossendale gave the scrum to the visitors just inside their own half. The Rossendale scrummage has performed well this season and today was no exception. The front row of Nuri Stoner, Nathan Wells and Reece Howarth are a formidable crew and throughout the match the Rossendale pack had the upper hand at the set piece.

Despite gaining possession from the scrum Rossendale were disposed by their opponents and with a few quick passes Bolton were able to make some space and tear up field. The Bolton centre was in the clear and only a few yards out when a last ditch diving tackle from Rowan Hopkinson pulled him down, to their credit, the Bolton attack had followed up and picked up the loose ball carrying it the last few yards over the line for the first score, duly converted.

From the restart Rossendale harried the opposition pinning them in their own half. Nathan Waddington pounced on any loose ball whilst Haig Haworth and Will Whinton tackled hard. As the pressure mounted Bradley Watts worked his way over the line but the ball was held up by a determined Bolton defence. From the 5m attacking scrum Rossendale won quick ball and finally Nuri Stoner powered himself over the line for the try, Rowan Hopkinson converted to level the score.

Bolton restarted and Rossendale took clean possession and kicked the ball back up field. The Bolton fullback gathered the ball and seeing an opportunity with some space on his right he completed a forceful run almost the length of the field to score in the corner. The conversion was missed and the first half concluded with a score of 12-7 to the visitors.

The second half ensued with the same gusto, as Bolton gathered the ball Rossendale pressure forced them to infringe at the maul awarding a penalty to the home side. A quickly taken tap by Josh Beeken made some space for Isaac Bolton to skilfully evade the last line of defence but he still needed all his strength to force the ball down for the try. Rowan Hopkinson slotted a difficult conversion from just inside the left touch line to give his side a slender two point lead.

Bolton came back on the attack and soon forced Rossendale to concede a knock on. At the scrum the home side were penalised for foot up before the ball was released into the scrum. Bolton took a quick free kick, strung together some fluid passes to work their way up field and score their third try, although unconverted it put them back into the lead 17-14.

Less than 10 minutes remained and the Young Bucks were determined to get back in front, they pinned the Bolton lads in their own half, Ieuan Dwyfor-Jones almost broke through on a powerful charge beating all but the last man who just managed to nudge the ball out of his hands to save the try. Rossendale were in pursuit and John Wayne challenged immediately for the loose ball, the Bolton defence fought frantically to gain possession whilst they did so one of their players came off his feet handled the ball on the ground and was penalised.

Bradley Watts took the quick tap penalty and drew the defence before offloading to Josh Beeken who although tackled by two defenders managed to ground the ball over the try line to inch his side back into the lead, further extended by another well kicked conversion from Rowan Hopkinson.

Rossendale clung onto possession from the restart and despite fierce pressure held Bolton at bay to seal a well earned victory 21-17.
Man of the match award went to the 2 Bolton players that played for Rossendale and to the Bolton coaches for allowing for a fair game with loaning the 2 players.