Newly promoted Rossendale RUFC second team commenced the new season on Saturday in the Cotton Traders Premier division with a baptism of fire against the previous seasons league winners Caldy. Totally unfazed the Dale lads started off superbly with a well taken try within a few minutes of the start after great handling through the backs with Olly Molloy supporting the final pass to record Dales first score on the day and in that league. Caldy hit back strongly though and soon got into a rhythm which lead them to take to take a decent lead . Jordan Lord managed to get one back for the home side prior to the break and with the Rossendale slope in their favour in the second stanza confidence was high. Caldy put a dampener on that as they recorded a further score soon after the restart and it looked like the home boys had no answer to what the visitors were offering as Caldy recorded several more tries to take what seemed like an unassailable lead . Nobody told the Dale lads they couldn't do it however and they met fire with fire. They soon started to put pressure on the visitors and a superb forward driving maul saw Jordan Fortune score under the sticks. Further great work through a full team effort saw Fortune in for his second and George Peel finished off a blinder. The fairy tale finish wasn't to be though and Caldy recorded an almost undeserved score on the last play of the game to make the score line a little flattering at 46-27. It was an eyeopener to see the bench mark of such a high standard of "Second team rugby" . Caldy players knew they had been in a game and openly acknowledged the efforts of the Rossendale team which have to be praised for the way they came back with such effort and commitment. It was a great game of rugby on a superb pitch down in no small part to groundsman Simon Bond . Well done to the Dale lads for this outstanding effort .