Rochdale 44 Doncaster Phoenix 31
Dale travelled to the impressive Castle Park Stadium home of National 1st Division side Doncaster Knights for the first league meeting at this level. Dale were still without Steve Collins who was on the bench and Chris Hodgkinson still not available. Callum Hill started at Fly Half with Ben Coulter, Kyle Parry and Harry Hill in the front row.
Dale started well and scored a well worked try through Ben Sunderland in the first 5 minutes the conversion gave Dale a 7-0 lead. Moments later Callum Hill got a poke in the eye which caused him to come off, replaced by Collins who must not have expected to have to come on so early in the game.
Doncaster came back and soon scored their opener from close range and under the posts 7-7. Doncaster’s strong pack were held by Dale in midfield but an offence on the Dale 22 gave them a kicking opportunity which Hochen converted to make it 10-7 after 15 mins. Dale were soon back on the attack and after a storming run by No. 8 Ethan Poole the ball broke to winger Cliff Howard who out sprinted the home defence to score in the corner the kick from Collins went just wide so 10-12 to Dale and the game was bubbling nicely with Ben Sunderland and Declan Conner doing well in the line out the backs had plenty of ball and with Collins producing some dangerous high kicks it was only a matter of time until following a scrum on the Doncaster 22 a great individual try for Tom Hesketh was unconverted 10-17 and Dale were edging in front then from a good passing move in midfield a wild high pass from Howard was intercepted by the Doncaster captain who ran in a try under the posts an easy conversion and the scores were level at 17-17. Jonny Bradley was brought on for Kyle Parry at hooker and despite plenty of ball from scrum and line out Dale squandered chances allowing Doncaster to gain possession and only great tackling from Emerson Lopes ,Danny Joesbury and Collins kept the home side at bay. After another good take in the line out by Sunderland it was the combination of Poole and captain Josh Schofield that saw a third Dale try converted by Collins making it 17-24 with half time approaching. However never say die Doncaster came back at Dale and after a series of penalties and a scrum on the 5m line a strong push saw them go over for a converted try making the half time score 24-24.
Deep kick offs were the order of the day and Conner and Sunderland collected most of the Doncaster efforts giving the supporting players such as Matty Johnston and Tom Hesketh plenty of chances as they moved into the Doncaster half, the referee spotted an infringement on the 22 and Collins elected to kick planting the ball over the posts putting Dale back in the lead 24-27. Harry Hayes came on with Poole moving to 2nd row it was Collins back to his best who opened up the home defence and when Dale won a scrum against the head 20 metres out another penalty saw him get his 2nd penalty 24-30 with 15 minutes left. The unstoppable Poole was next on the score sheet battering his way through three tackles to score a fine try converted by Collins 24-37. The only disappointment of the afternoon was a yellow card for Declan Conner who had another fine game along with the Doncaster No. 11 for infringements in the scrum. A deep penalty kick by the home side was well fielded by Schofield in his own 22 a trade mark jinking run was held up on the home 22 a scrum was given but Dale again won against the head and the ball came to Tom Hesketh who made good yards and released winger Cliff Howard to romp in for a great try Collins converted from the touchline 24-44. The action was not over as Doncaster determined to get something from the match went in for a fourth try after Dale conceded a penalty on their 22. The conversion left the final score 31-44 to Dale.
Another high scoring game with special mention to wing forward Ben Sunderland who had a great line out game and a good defensive performance. A free weekend next week followed by a home game against Pontefract.
David Rhodes R.R.U.F.C.
