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Northwich 22 - 5 Rochdale

15/ 4/2008

IN one of the poorest performances in many years by a Rochdale side, they went down, in Cheshire, to a mediocre Northwich outfit in what can only be described as a dilatory display of rugby union.

With the exception of one or two players, the Bamford side showed a total lack of interest.

Northwich based their game around their impressive number eight Graham Robinson who controlled the game from the back of the scrum. They also had a lively half-back pairing of Garteth Davies and Richard Dale, who subdued their Rochdale counterparts with consummate ease.

Rochdale had some excuse in that several players were recovering from flu and when captain Lee Riddle left the field with a chest infection, they found themselves leaderless and the performance went from bad to worse.

Northwich scored two first half tries as they cashed in on poor defence by the visitors. The scoreline could have been worse as the home team’s kicker spurned three good opportunities to add to the tally.

The second half was more of the same with Rochdale unable to hold on to the ball. With the exception of Neil Sunderland and Andy O’Brien in the front row there was little to show.

Derek Adams and Ross Hartley worked their socks off in the back row but the rest of the pack weren’t at the races. Northwich increased their lead with a try between the sticks to lead 22-0.

Rochdale stirred from their lethargy and young winger Phil Cowburn crossed for a try. He received excellent support from Callum Mulkeen on the opposite wing.

The two 17 year-olds were by far the pick of the backs and, had they received better service from the centres and fullback - who twice chose to hold on to the ball when Cowburn had the line at his mercy - the visitors might have been in with a shout.

As it was got what their abysmal display deserved.