In horrendous conditions at Marl Pits, Rossendale RUFC showed grit and determination to secure a 45-24 victory over Birkenhead Park on Saturday afternoon. Despite the wind and rain making it a challenge for both teams, Rossendale dominated large portions of the game, bagging a bonus point in the process.

First Half: Hard Fought in the Mud

The opening stages were scrappy, with the swirling wind and soggy pitch wreaking havoc on the handling and kicking game. After 20 minutes, the score remained 0-0, with neither side able to find a breakthrough in the testing conditions.

However, Rossendale finally broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute. A well-worked move from a scrum saw the ball spun along the backline. Zane Ainsley came into the line from full-back, drew his man, and slipped the ball to winger Toby Cole. Cole made a few yards before passing back inside to Ben Stephens, who supported well to dive over out wide. Lewis Allen added the extras to give Rossendale a 7-0 lead.

Things got worse for Birkenhead Park on the half-hour mark when a cynical trip on Babarinsa earned them a yellow card. From the resulting penalty scrum, Rossendale punished the visitors. The ball was worked through the hands once again, and Ainsley crossed for Rossendale’s second try. Allen’s reliable boot extended the lead to 14-0 at the break, with the wind and rain showing no signs of easing.

Second Half: Rossendale Take Control

Kicking downhill after the break, Rossendale wasted no time in exerting their dominance. Just three minutes into the half, Alex Ropeti powered over under the posts after sustained pressure from the forwards. Allen’s conversion stretched the lead to 21-0.

Moments later, Birkenhead’s discipline let them down again with another yellow card. This time, Isra broke through the defence, offloading inside to Maguire, who crashed over near the posts. The try was met with wild celebrations from the Rossendale players, and Allen’s conversion made it 28-0, securing the bonus point.

Rossendale kept the scoreboard ticking over, with Toby Cole scoring twice in quick succession. His first effort came at 52 minutes, but unfortunately, he missed the conversion. Four minutes later, Cole crossed again after Allen spun the ball wide, though he missed the kick again, leaving the score at 38-0.

Birkenhead Park Fight Back

Birkenhead Park eventually got themselves on the board in the 59th minute. From a scrum near the posts, Joe Barracliffe powered over to score, though the conversion was missed.

They struck again in the 63rd minute, with Gareth Jones scoring after a well-worked penalty tap-and-go. This time, Liam Isaacs added the conversion, bringing the score to 38-12.

Rossendale responded quickly in the 71st minute through Ben Stephens. A clever kick through by Allen was chased down by Stephens, who showed his pace to score under the posts. Allen made no mistake with the conversion, pushing the score to 45-12.

Late Drama in Tough Conditions

Birkenhead refused to lie down and scored twice more in the closing stages. Their number 13 added a try to make it 45-17, though the conversion was missed. Then, right on the 80-minute mark, Lewtas crossed the line, with Isaacs converting to leave the final score at 45-24.

Summary
While Rossendale will be pleased with the win and bonus point, the match was far from perfect. The conditions made for a scrappy affair, and lapses in concentration allowed Birkenhead to score three second-half tries.

Nevertheless, Rossendale’s ability to capitalise on opportunities in challenging weather showed their quality. They remain in strong form as they head into the festive break, looking to maintain their position at the top of the table.