Moortown 38 Rochdale 41
Dale welcomed back joint captain Josh Schofield at full back and Ethan Poole at loose forward on a bright breezy day in Leeds. Two attacking sides both with an opening day win under their belts promised a close match and so it proved with Dale first on the score sheet with less than 5 minutes on the clock after a line out was taken on the Moortown 10 metre line a nice passing move started by Steve Collins was made into a try converted by Collins 7-0. Both sides pressed hard and after a penalty to the Home Side on the Dale 22 the ball was passed across the pitch and Moortowns big No.8 crashed over for their first try converted by Haddon 7-7.
Dale on the defence now, and after a great tackle Collins was adjudged to have held his man down, and given a yellow card. Down to 14 men and having lost probably their most influential player Dale were having to defend a scrum on their 10 metre line the ball went wide and another tackle was judged to be high leading to Tom Hesketh being carded by a zealous Referee so Dale now down to 13 men. Moortown took advantage and scored in the corner the conversion taken so 14-7 after just 15 minutes of all action rugby.
Matt Johnston had taken over kicking duties in Collins absence and his deep re-start was taken and returned to the Dale 22 a penalty in the line out to Dale saw the play return to the Moortown 22 where a nice inside pass from Danny Joesbury at scrum half let in flying winger Cliff Howard and full back Schofield combine and Howard to jink in for Dales 2nd try the conversion was attempted out of hand by Johnston but fell well short 14-12. Collins returned to the fray but moments later a shoulder injury to Spud Green caused him to go off replaced by Harry Hayes. Dale won another line out on the Moortown 22 Collins started a wonderful passing move involving 5 players and ended in a try of top quality the conversion went in from Collins 14-19 Dale despite everything had their noses in front. Johnston took a high probing kick on half way and returned with interest, Dale won another line out inside the oppositions half and the ball came to Tom Hesketh recently returned to the game and he began a meandering run through the Moortown defence to score in the corner by pure pace. Collins converted so 14-26 and all seemed to be going well however the Moortown tactic of winning line out ball deep in the Dale half followed by a rolling maul led to the award of their first penalty try and the inevitable yellow card the 3rd of the day for Dale and a half time score of 21-26.
Starting the second half with 14 men Dale kept Moortown at bay with deep kicks by Collins and Johnston pegging the home side in their own half but a high tackle on Emerson Lopez caused him to go off for a head injury assessment being replaced by Declan Connor. Still attacking Joesbury had his pass intercepted and Moortown ran in a good try from half way.
28-26 and the Yorkshire men in front for the first time, this caused Dale now back to 15 to redouble their efforts and the pack with Harry Hill, Kyle Parry and Jonny Bradley did great work to crash over for the 5th try of the day 26-33 the game was finely balanced and when a penalty was conceded by the home defence Collins stepped up to slot the kick and make it 26-36. The scoring was far from over as at the other end of the pitch another penalty this time in front of Dales posts saw the hosts creep back up to 29-36. The last 5 minutes were hectic as Moortown attacked down the right wing and won a scrum on the Dale 5 metre line the first scrum collapsed and a second one with a warning from the referee was taken on the line it collapsed and the referee awarded a 2nd penalty try and Dales 4th yellow card 38-36.
With the final kick off lost by Moortown Dale went back on the attack determined to take the match and when Harry Hayes got the ball 5 metres out his powerful run to the corner could not be stopped the kick from Collins went just wide but with the score 38-41 there was just time to kick off and for Collins to take the ball and kick into touch with the Referee to blow for full time. A great win with Dale showing all the defensive qualities and several super tries despite being down to 13 men for periods their never say die approach should see them well for the rest of the season.
Next week a home game against Morley.
David Rhodes R.R.U.F.C.
