Back
Sat 21 Oct 2023 ·  NOWIRUL COTTON TRADERS PREMIER LEAGUE
2nd XVCaldy 2nd XV
Tries: G Peel, J DuttonConversions: A PotgieterPenalties: A Potgieter (2)Yellow Carded: A Potgieter
18
46
Winning streak ended ends but plenty to shout about for the Dale lads
Paul Kilshaw23 Oct 2023 - 20:56
Share via
A big effort from the Seconds , made it hard work for a very good side and im sure alot of experience taken from this game.
All good things come to an end . But after the performance the Rossendale Rufc Second team put up against the visitors from the Wirral on Saturday i'm sure the good things will restart very soon.
Caldy, with a first team playing up in the second tier of of English rugby and with a second team that i dont think anybody can remember when the last time they were beaten have set the bench mark for the Cotton Traders premier league for an age and deservedly so given the strength of the teams they put out and the standards they play too.
The Dale lads were not unfazed by that and went into this game full of confidence as they have not been to bad themselves so far this season.
Weather wise things had calmed down after the maelstrom of the previous 24 hours and the pitch was in great nick thanks to the efforts of the groundsman Simon Bond so all set for a belting game of rugby.
It didnt take long though for Caldy to assert their authority with a try after 5 minutes when the Dales defence was breached out wide . Almost a good thing for Rossendale as this seemed to gee them up and after fighting down the pitch for territory Aj Potgieter was on target to land a penalty goal after indiscretions around the ruck from the visitors.
A period of stability followed with Caldy being in the ascendancy but Rossendale putting up some sterling defence . However Caldy found a way through once again and added the conversion.
AJ Potgieter added a further penalty to keep the home side within a shout of Caldy but the visitors turned the screws just before half time with further tries and conversions to make the score 24-6 at the break.
The second half started badly for Dale. Caldy recorded further tries and a conversion to take the game away from Rossendale . It was a little bit of a downer for the lads because they had given plenty of effort up until this point. But once again the spirit of the team shone through and efforts were rewarded when pressing into the Caldy 22 Marcus Yates placed a deft little grubber kick through to have the defensive line back tracking and having no match for the speed and guile of go Johnny go go go Dutton who collected the ball cleanly and scored Dales first try of the day.
Another good period for Rossendale saw them pressure Caldy on their own line and the commitment of the lads was terrific to see. Caldy were actually hurting at this point but once again showed their professionalism by turning the pressure from Dale into an attack from which they scored again.
From kick off Rossendale once again fought back at Caldy who were visibly feeling uncomfortable with what the home side were doing to them. Several attacks were thwarted by the visitors defence over a period of around ten minutes before George Peel put on a superb drive and bullied his way over for a well deserved try converted by AJ. Peely also took out Caldys 16 th man , the man in the middle with a huge drive and knocked him for six. The ref has referred himself to the disciplinary for attempting to make a no hands challenge on the player and look likely to cop a ban bigger than Peely usually gets. Joking aside it was all taken in good spirits and i think the Ref had a very good repor with the players all afternoon.
As the game was drawing into its final stages Caldy now sniffed the tiring Dales defence and scambled in down by the bottom corner for the final note worthy act of the game apart from AJ having a mellow yellow moment for an alleged high tackle on the scorer . The game concluded at 46 -18 for the visitors .
Make no bones about it this was a full blown all out game of enjoyable rugby and despite the loss the Rossendale lads on duty had given their all in a very physically challenging contest. Plenty of accolades from the Caldy coaches for the way Dale conducted themselves .
Performances of note on the day include the ever industrious Joe Robertson Maher and Richard Dromgoole McGuire . An absolute brilliant effort from George Peel, with the body that feels like its a 70 year old yet is still only 27 and in the backs James Willets really shone with some tenacious tackling against lads twice his size and some good attacking breaks. Star of the match award though went to Marcus Yates playing at full back for most of the game and providing a magical piece of inspiration for the first try.
Caldy, with a first team playing up in the second tier of of English rugby and with a second team that i dont think anybody can remember when the last time they were beaten have set the bench mark for the Cotton Traders premier league for an age and deservedly so given the strength of the teams they put out and the standards they play too.
The Dale lads were not unfazed by that and went into this game full of confidence as they have not been to bad themselves so far this season.
Weather wise things had calmed down after the maelstrom of the previous 24 hours and the pitch was in great nick thanks to the efforts of the groundsman Simon Bond so all set for a belting game of rugby.
It didnt take long though for Caldy to assert their authority with a try after 5 minutes when the Dales defence was breached out wide . Almost a good thing for Rossendale as this seemed to gee them up and after fighting down the pitch for territory Aj Potgieter was on target to land a penalty goal after indiscretions around the ruck from the visitors.
A period of stability followed with Caldy being in the ascendancy but Rossendale putting up some sterling defence . However Caldy found a way through once again and added the conversion.
AJ Potgieter added a further penalty to keep the home side within a shout of Caldy but the visitors turned the screws just before half time with further tries and conversions to make the score 24-6 at the break.
The second half started badly for Dale. Caldy recorded further tries and a conversion to take the game away from Rossendale . It was a little bit of a downer for the lads because they had given plenty of effort up until this point. But once again the spirit of the team shone through and efforts were rewarded when pressing into the Caldy 22 Marcus Yates placed a deft little grubber kick through to have the defensive line back tracking and having no match for the speed and guile of go Johnny go go go Dutton who collected the ball cleanly and scored Dales first try of the day.
Another good period for Rossendale saw them pressure Caldy on their own line and the commitment of the lads was terrific to see. Caldy were actually hurting at this point but once again showed their professionalism by turning the pressure from Dale into an attack from which they scored again.
From kick off Rossendale once again fought back at Caldy who were visibly feeling uncomfortable with what the home side were doing to them. Several attacks were thwarted by the visitors defence over a period of around ten minutes before George Peel put on a superb drive and bullied his way over for a well deserved try converted by AJ. Peely also took out Caldys 16 th man , the man in the middle with a huge drive and knocked him for six. The ref has referred himself to the disciplinary for attempting to make a no hands challenge on the player and look likely to cop a ban bigger than Peely usually gets. Joking aside it was all taken in good spirits and i think the Ref had a very good repor with the players all afternoon.
As the game was drawing into its final stages Caldy now sniffed the tiring Dales defence and scambled in down by the bottom corner for the final note worthy act of the game apart from AJ having a mellow yellow moment for an alleged high tackle on the scorer . The game concluded at 46 -18 for the visitors .
Make no bones about it this was a full blown all out game of enjoyable rugby and despite the loss the Rossendale lads on duty had given their all in a very physically challenging contest. Plenty of accolades from the Caldy coaches for the way Dale conducted themselves .
Performances of note on the day include the ever industrious Joe Robertson Maher and Richard Dromgoole McGuire . An absolute brilliant effort from George Peel, with the body that feels like its a 70 year old yet is still only 27 and in the backs James Willets really shone with some tenacious tackling against lads twice his size and some good attacking breaks. Star of the match award though went to Marcus Yates playing at full back for most of the game and providing a magical piece of inspiration for the first try.
Further reading
Team Sponsors