Rossendale vs Harrogate

However, in spite of the wintry week, they managed to produce a playable pitch today. Playing up a considerable slope in the first half, Harrogate forward dominance and incisive back play gave them a 0-21 half time lead. However, Harrogate flanker, Tom Harvey was sin binned in the dying moments of the half, Rossendale obviously had a half time rollicking and came out of their blocks at the restart to test the Harrogate defence for the rest of the match.

The game started evenly with Harrogate dominating the set pieces with props Connor Ward and Charley Purkiss-McEndoo in complete control. Hooker, Steve Maycock scrummaged as well as ever and was also a real force in the loose. However, the big Rossendale side was strong in contact with back row forwards Dom Moon and Ryan McKibbin well to the fore. The first score started with a brilliant high take under pressure from Oli Rosillo. Danny Matthews was in support and put in a trademark attacking kick from which Luke Edwards won the chase to score. Luke White’s touchline conversion made it 0-7 after 18 minutes. Minutes later, driving forwards play released Rosillo whose searing break was supported by No8, Jonny Coser who powered through despairing attempted tackles to score. White landed yet another touchline conversion.

A powerful Andy Boyde run then scattered defenders to set up attacking backs play with David Doherty and Harry Barnard linking well. The pressure continued with a great Harrogate defensive scrum forcing Rossendale to concede a penalty. This quickly led to good ball from an attacking scrum and Matthews burst through for a blind side try followed by White’s third touchline conversion. Using the slope advantage well, Rossendale forced Harrogate to defend for the rest of the half and, crucially, this pressure led to the Harvey sin binning on the stroke of half time.

Early in the second half, the stretched Harrogate defence were forced to concede a penalty and Rossendale flanker, Phil Mills crashed over for a converted try. Using their numerical advantage well, strong Rossendale running continued to test the Harrogate defence with centre, Jack Ward and second row, Tom Jones making big impacts. For the rest of the match, Harrogate continually fell foul of the referee’s definition of a high tackle and conceded a stream of penalties.

A nasty clash of heads had led to Guy Coser having to leave the field and be replaced by Tim Heaton. Heaton had advised me that, when he started playing for Harrogate, the Coser twins were still in primary school

In spite of this the Harrogate defence held out and a big Edwards break relieved the pressure. It was ended by an unpunished, questionable tackle and Harrogate were back on the defensive. Powerful tackling forced Rossendale to spill the ball and Boyde gathered it, made a powerful half break, committed a defender to an attempted tackle and passed to substitute centre, Euean Miller. He ran strongly to swerve outside, beat the cover and score a bonus point try in the corner.

Rossendale: Leader, Peel, Strange, J Ward, Simpson, Allen, Bramhall, Lord, Wilkinson, George-Nonayar, Jones, Tomlinson, Moon, Mills, McKibbin. Subs:- Flynn, Isherwood, Blackmann.

Harrogate: Doherty, Barnard, Lawson, Edwards, Rosillo, White, Matthews, Purkiss-McEndoo, C Ward, Boyde, Brady, Harvey, G Coser, J Coser. Subs:- Butler, Heaton, Miller

Referee: Nathan Howard (Northern Division)

Match report by Bill Barrack