Rochdale 36 Bradford Salem 17
On a special day for Rochdale a large crowd were on hand to see the League winner’s trophy handed to captain Josh Schofield at the end of a hard fought win over visitors Bradford Salem at Moorgate Avenue. It was also a very special day for veteran 3rd team player Gary Smith who played his last home game at the age of 65 with his two sons in the same side, a great servant to the club.
On a fine day with the pitch in great condition a Dale side with only one change saw Will Simmons replacing Joe Donnelly in the backs took on a strong Salem side that they beat narrowly earlier in the season. After conceding a couple of early penalties Dale settled down and won a line out on half way and it was captain Schofield with his usual jinking run that opened up the Salem defence allowing Tom Hesketh room to speed down the wing cut inside and kick through the visitors defence and collect the ball to touch down by the posts. Matt Johnston converted so 7-0 after 5 mins. After some good defending by Dale it was Ethan Poole battering his way through the Salem pack releasing scrum half Danny Joesbury to score in the corner a great touch line conversion from Johnston made it 14-0 with only 15 mins. gone.
Next to score was James O’Connell following a well worked lineout, took the return ball from Ben Sunderland to crash through from 8 metres out. The conversion from Johnston was just wide so 19-0. Tom Hesketh was next on the score sheet following a good line out take by Sunderland and a quick pass out to the ever present winger who streaked through the defenders for another classic try the conversion went wide and the score with half time approaching was 24-0. Salem carried on attacking with some nice passing moves which saw them reach the Dale 5 metre line several penalties and a referees warning saw them camped on the Dale try line the next offender was certain to see a yellow card and unfortunately this was Fly Half Matt Johnston who got 10 minutes on the bench. Salem continued to press and only stoic defending by Dale kept them at bay and with the ball on half way an offence by the Salem scrum half saw the 2nd yellow card of the game. Try as they might Salem could not cross the Home line with Dec Connor, Bradley and Harry Hayes all defending well and the backs with Joe Horne at stand in Fly Half all did their parts a second yellow card seemed inevitable as the ball stayed in the Dale red zone and just before half time it was given out so Dale ended the half with 13 players but no points conceded 24-0 half time.
With the vital bonus point secured Dale could be excused for easing off but it was more the persistent attacking by the visitors with fly half Langhorn making the plays from midfield which led to a try on 45 mins scored by prop Ed Cook the conversion was missed so 24-5 and a possible come back for the visitors. Indeed apart from a great kick through and chase by Sunderland which ended with the ball running dead it was all Salem for the next quarter with a 5 metre scrum followed by a nice try leaving the score 24-12 after 55 mins. Dale made changes will Ben Coulter coming on for Harry Hill who had is usual solid half and a welcome return of Dom Serridge in the backs along with Joe Kershaw. Still the Salem wingers were pressing Dales defence and after a good passing move the ball came wide and despite a great tackle from Schofield his opposite number Robinson was able to sneak in at the corner the conversion fell short so 24-17 with 15 minutes to go.
Dale needed to bounce back and with Johnston restored to fly half the pressure started to build and with the help of a couple of penalties they were on the Salem line and 2nd rower Paddy O’Loughlin crashed over or in this case under the defenders to score a well deserved try in the corner , the kick went just wide 29-17 with 10 mins. left. Dec Connor came back on for Sunderland and Dale carried on battering the tiring Salem defence and put the icing on the cake a hat trick try for Tom Hesketh left the score 36-17 when Johnston’s touch line conversion sailed over. This should have been the end of an entertaining game but an unfortunate last minute scuffle caused the referee who had tried to keep the cards down, to show Dec Connor and the Salem prop Lickley both reds for fighting. An altogether entertaining game good attacking rugby and a fine hat trick from Tom Hesketh, Salem came and made a game of it in the second half but Dale, as they have been all season had just too much for them. Scenes at the end were jubilant as the League cup was presented to captain Josh Schofield by the Lancashire Secretary. No game next week but a trip to Malton and Norton on the 5th of April rounds off the season.
David Rhodes R.R.U.F.C.