A Fair Result

Once more the home side had numbers in depth for their coaches to select from a squad of both new and experienced players. Rossendale kicked off and Liverpool St. Helens immediately forced their way into their opponents half. They maintained a period of pressure in the Rossendale half threatening the try line several times. The tackling from Haig Howarth and Joe Bedlow was impressive. At the breakdown the forwards Sam Ashworth, Tyler Johnson, Nuri Stoner and Lewis Bacon made it very difficult for the visitors to win clean ball. Only after 11 minutes of being camped in the Rossendale half did Liverpool St. Helens finally break through for the first try of the match, which they duly converted.

The Marl Pits side were keen to level the score and immediately waged a determined attack for their first spell into their opponents half. A penalty from a high tackle on Joe Bedlow some 20 metres out lead to an attack down the left wing and after fine handling from Elliott Newell and newcomer to the forwards ,Joe Starkie, Joe Bedlow was able to finish the move and score the try with Rowan Hopkinson converting to level the scores.

Liverpool St. Helens came back strongly and seemed certain to score from a tap penalty when their largest player thundered for the line less than 15 metres out, only for Nathan Waddington, possibly the smallest player on the Rossendale side, to halt him in his tracks with a fearless head on tackle.

The first half ended with the scores level and the Rossendale coaches brought on some fresh legs for the second half to ensure all their squad had a run out.

The Rossendale scrum continued to win more than their fair share of ball and scrum half Josh Beeken was quick to move the ball out to his backs. The next try saw this combination work well for Rossendale when a scrum just inside Liverpool St. Helens half furnished quick ball to Jack Whittaker who broke through the first line of defence and continued his run, evading more tackles, before crossing the try line. Joe Bedlow converted.

Rossendale continued to enjoy a good period of possession and were rewarded with another try. Ieuan Dwyfor-Jones, despite being surrounded by several of the opposition, ripped the ball clear in the maul and set off up field, when tackled he managed to feed Jack Flannagan who made further progress before going to ground. As the ruck formed Reece Howarth, committed as ever, powered into contact and ensured Rossendale kept possession. Captain Oliver Leah organised his attack allowing Max Haworth to finish off the move with a determined run for the line, after the successful conversion Rossendale were 21:7 ahead.

Liverpool St. Helens were never going to sit back and spent the last 10 minutes desperately trying to level the score, moving the ball wide to their wings, only to be thwarted by Cai Astley and Fin Wilby’s copy book tackling. Although the Young Bucks continued to tackle ferociously, twice stopping the visitors from grounding the ball over the try line, they eventually succeeded and scored two converted try's to draw the match at 21 each.

It was the hardest decision so far this year for the coaches to pick out the star players as everybody gave a great performance, but for the records;

Forward of the match: Oliver Leah
Back of the match: Haig Howarth
Man of the Match: Max Haworth