Rochdale 50 Goole 0
Dale welcomed debutante Joe Donnelly in the centre with Ben Coulter returning at prop after a long absence from the first team. A poor kick off by the visitors saw the ball not making 10 metres and a scrum to Dale on half way. After winning the ball back, Goole fly half Roberts managed to kick direct into touch and another scrum to the home side a good passing move saw the ball come to Captain Josh Scofield who backed himself to ride several attempted tackles and score the opening try which was converted by Steve Collins so 7-0 after just 5 minutes played.
Goole went on the attack only stout defence from Dale prevented a reply. Dale had a penalty on half way the line out was taken by Chris Hodgkinson and pass out by Collins saw Matty Johnston linking up and finding Tom Hesketh powering in and a 2nd try was assured – Collins converted from the touchline 14-0. Dale had a lot of defending to do with Goole employing their big pack to batter the home sides try line without success Half Time 14-0.
The 2nd half was much of the same as Goole battled away only to see their final kick over the Dale defence fielded by Collins and Schofield deep in their own 22 using the squally wind to good advantage. Scrums were won and line outs gave plenty of ball for the backs to rampage through the Goole defence and when an overlap on the left wing saw Schofield jink in at the corner, Collins converted so 21-0 after 42 mins. Johnston was next on the score sheet as he was on hand to take a short inside pass from Collins and nip in by the posts – the conversion by Collins left the score at 28-0. On the hour it was 2nd row Declan Conner who crashed over for the 5th try 33-0 the conversion attempt from Johnston was blown wide in the increasingly wild weather with hail and strong gusts dominating.
Collins was taken off as the game became more one sided. More defending was needed as Goole looked for some kind of reward for all their possession but Dale held firm with Harry Hayes, Riley Milsom and Ben Coulter all doing well in defence, Danny Joesbury distributed the ball from the scrums and runs from Jonny Bradley and Ben Sunderland were stopped short but it was Cliff Howard drifting in from the wing who was next to cross the line 38-0 with 10 mins left, time for debutant Joe Donnelly to score a well deserved try in the corner this time Johnston converted to make it 45-0.
Captain Josh Schofield rounded off a fine performance with his hat trick try, Rochdale’s 8th, squeezing in at the corner after a trademark weaving run from the 10m line making the final score a round 50!
Dale were dominant in this game much as last weeks effort away at Crossleyans. Next Saturday we are at home again to top of the table Old Brodlians in a 3pm kick off where a win could take Dale to the top of the table.
David Rhodes R.R.U.F.C
