Rochdale 24 Wetherby 21
After a two minutes silence for Armistice Day the two teams lined up for what was seen to be an important game for both sides, Dale without talisman fly half Steve Collins and missing Chris Hodgkinson in the 2nd row the coach called in Callum Hill and Jacob Jackson both products of the Colts and Junior set up at the club.
Wetherby started well and their experienced full back Charlie Yates made several good grubber kicks to try to breach the Dale defence and captain Josh Schofield was forced to touch down behind his own line when one such effort left him exposed, despite lots of pressure from the visitors it was Dale who scored first when a penalty was quickly taken by scrum half Danny Joesbury on half way who left the Wetherby defence behind and sprinted the full half to score under the posts Matty Johnston converted so 7-0. Dale were soon on the back foot and another chip over the defenders was taken under the posts by the Wetherby centre who scored a try that was converted so with 10 minutes gone it was level at 7-7. The visitors had a chance to go ahead with a penalty on half way which Yates elected to kick but saw his effort go just wide. Dale captain Josh Schofield was having a busy afternoon having had a couple of good runs from deep defence he was back covering a promising Wetherby attack when he stuck out an arm for a possible interception that the referee deemed a deliberate knock on and produced a yellow card for the Rochdale player.
Down to 14 men Dale were really up against it they defended well but a good passing move from the visitors led to a second try well converted by Yates 14-7 to Wetherby. A good break by Ethan Poole was checked by the Wetherby defence but backing up was Cliff Howard who tore through only to be stopped on the 22. Jonny Bradley came on for Kyle Parry at hooker as was soon making good yards and battering the visitors defence and with half time approaching Dale won a penalty on the Wetherby 22 in front of the posts Schofield who had come back on after his yellow elected to take the scrum rather than kick but his decision was justified when minutes later he broke through the line and scored a good try, the conversion went wide so half time saw Dale trailing 12-14.
Wetherby completed a good re start and won a line out on the Dale 22 a kick from Yates was charged down by Dec Conner and he was only stopped by a high tackle by Yates who was yellow carded and so probably the best Wetherby player was off for 10 minutes and Dale had a real chance to get back in the game, with Joe Horne and Harry Hayes on more pressure around the rucks and good scrumming led to a nice pass by Matty Johnston playing as fly half find the mercurial Hesketh who backed himself chipping the defender in front of him and getting a nice bounce in return allowing him to dive over the line in front of the home supporters on the balcony for a fine solo try Johnston converted to make the score 19-14 and see the home side in front at last.
The ball was soon back in the Wetherby half and when they failed to win a line out on their 22 the Dale backs were soon on the rampage with Schofield, Ben Sunderland and Tom Hesketh all involved , but it was 2nd rower Dec.Conner a.k.a.the blonde bombshell who crashed over from close range for a well deserved try the conversion was wide so 24-14 and the bonus points secured. Wetherby who had played well were not about to give this one up and after a series of penalties found themselves camped on the Dale line a try was coming and so with 5 minutes left to play they scored under the posts and converted 24-21. As the game went into the final throws Dale defended well as usual and also had chances themselves but the final scrum went the visitors on the Dale 22 a long pass to the winger was forward and the Referee blew the final whistle.
This was a solid win for the young Dale side missing some experienced players a credit to both sides and another bonus points win. Next week Dale travel to Doncaster Phoenix an early 10.15 coach and a 2.15 kick off.
David Rhodes R.R.U.F.C.
