Rochdale 34 Scarborough 19
This was the meeting of the top 2 in the Regional North East 2 league with Rochdale holding top spot by 1 point prior to the kick-off, although a win for Scarborough would have seen them swap places with their hosts. In a first for the Rochdale club, all 18 players in the matchday squad were home grown as they had come through the clubs Minis, Juniors and Colts sections. Scarborough had 10 home grown players with a smattering of Australian accents to be heard.
The initial play saw good midfield pressure by Rochdale followed by a penalty to them for their opponents being offside at a ruck. There was a good steal in contact by a Scarborough player that was stopped when a knock on occurred and a scrum awarded to Rochdale. The ball came smartly from the scrum, through hands for Sunderland to score to the right of the posts after 7 minutes. Collins added the conversion (7-0). Rochdale went back on attack with a good passing move that was stopped by a penalty to the home team for offside by the visitors. A passing move led to a forward pass with the scrum to Scarborough finding the ball back to Carroll who put a good clearing kick up to their 22 metre in the 10th minute. In the next minute, a penalty was awarded to Rochdale for ‘sealing off’ by Scarborough. Collins stepped up to put the ball between the posts (10-0).
Scarborough had not ventured much into the Rochdale 22 metre, but this changed in the 13th minute, when following a scrum to them, the ball went smartly though hands for Domett to score a try in the corner. Carroll put over a good conversion (10-7). Scarborough were not done as following a kick through by them, Schofield fielded it but was bunded into touch. Scarborough won the line out and the ball found its way to Lyon who scored a try that Carroll converted (10-14). In the 20th minute, a Scarborough knock on led to a Rochdale put in at the scrum that saw Rochdale move the ball crossfield for captain Schofield to go between 2 defenders to score another try that Collins once again converted (17-14). After 24 minutes, a further penalty to Rochdale saw the referee issue a warning to the Scarborough captain that further transgressions would lead to a card being issued. Joesbury took a quick tap at the penalty and ball reached prop Bradley who bundled over for another try, once again converted by Collins (24-14).
Good Scarborough pressure for a few minutes was only relieved when a player knocked on and a scrum awarded to Rochdale. In the 36th minute Collins failed to add to his points tally when he was unable to put a penalty through the posts. Scarborough once again had good pressure only relieved again when a player knocked on. As the half was ending, a penalty was awarded to Scarborough for a high tackle by a Rochdale player, A Scarborough player must have made his feelings known too forcefully to the referee as he reversed the penalty and Collins promptly put the kick though the posts to leave the half time score 27-14. Although Scarborough had enjoyed a good amount of the ball in the half, too much of it was going back and fro across the pitch without piercing the Rochdale defences too much. Although Rochdale had a decent lead, it was not one that could be considered a winning one at this point.
The early stages of the 2nd half saw good pressure by both teams that tested their opponent’s defences but no further scores. This changed in the 49th minute, when from a line out won by Hodgkinson, Joesbury ‘went blind’ and fed Howard who went in for a further Rochdale try, the bonus point one, halfway between the posts and touchline. Collins once again put over the conversion (34-14). Scarborough were not done and then put in their most continuous pressure on the Rochdale defences all over the pitch. During this period, Poole of Rochdale saw a Yellow Card after being judged to have not retreated 10 when Scarborough took a quick tap. 2 further Scarborough attacks were defended by Rochdale who had to be at their best to repel their opponents. In the 64th minute, another good move by Scarborough led to a miss pass not read by one of their players deep in the Rochdale half. Hesketh seized on it by twice hacking through to near the Scarborough 5 metre area but then unfortunately knocked on when trying to pick the ball up with the try line begging.
Scarborough were not to be done and again exerted good pressure on the Rochdale defences and in the 69th minute a good run by Domett was only stopped by a good Rochdale tackle. After 72 minutes, Scarborough pressure was only relieved when the Rochdale defences put the ball carrier into touch. A penalty to Rochdale ensued following an offence at the line out. In the 78th minute, a penalty was awarded to Scarborough for an infringement in the Rochdale ‘Red zone’. The ball was moved through a number of hands for Holloway to score a good try (34-19). Finally, the whistle was blown with Scarborough still trying to get their 4th try that would have earned them a bonus point. Both teams played a fast open style of rugby that was easy on the eye. As it was, Rochdale took 5 points from the game to leave them 6 points clear at the top of the league above Scarborough and Bradford Salem, who also lost on the day.
Thoughts now turn to next Saturday and a visit to Goole for a weather rearranged game.