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Rochdale roasting for Rossendale in derby delight

Mike Floyd
13/12/2005

Rochdale RUFC 43
Rossendale 5

ROCHDALE cruised to a comfortable win against near neighbours Rossendale in a fractious derby at Bamford on Saturday.

And, given the home team's amount of possession and territorial advantage, it could have been worse for the lacklustre visitors who didn't get into Rochdale's 22 until the 70th minute.

The ease of Rochdale's win was, perhaps, a surprise, but even more surprising was how Rossendale managed to finish with 15 men on the field. On the half-hour the visitors' hooker Sean Van Der Valt butted an opponent, instigating a mass brawl. When it subsided the crowd waited for the inevitable red card to be produced. It didn't arrive. The referee claimed he saw the offence but didn't have the number of the player involved. He was probably the only person on the ground who didn't.

The official also failed to produce any yellow cards despite Rossendale's continual spoiling tactics at the ruck, which again was amazing.

But it didn't matter as the back-row trio of Ross Hartley, Lee Riddle and Mike Bradwell led the way for the home team. They tackled everything that moved to set up a wave of Rochdale attacks.

They were well supported by the rest of the pack which allowed halfbacks Darren James and Chris Johnson to direct proceedings. Rossendale had no answer and were under incessant pressure throughout.

Rochdale started strongly and should have scored after five minutes following excellent work by Ben Dixon, but the final pass went to ground. Two more chances went begging as the referee failed to play the advantage much to the frustration of the home support.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 20th minute when Dan Bunting failed to gather Chris Johnson's crafty kick. Andy Rowlinson hacked on before dropping on the ball to score. Johnson converted. A second soon followed as Rowlinson's astute pass sent Jonny Mair through a yawning gap to touch down. Johnson added the extras and tagged on a penalty to give Rochdale a 17-0 interval lead.

The second half was more of the same. After five minutes a fluent passing move created an overlap for Andrew Tilley out wide. He cut inside, drew his man and slipped the ball to Johnson for a superb try. Johnson's touchline conversion sailed between the sticks.

Two more tries followed in quick succession as Dominic Greenhalgh and David Healey penetrated the battered and bewildered Rossendale defence. Johnson converted the second.

Hartley missed a golden opportunity as he fumbled the ball with the try-line at his mercy. But the Rochdale faithful didn't have to wait long as James's quick tap penalty caught the visitors napping and Tilley nipped in to score. Johnson tagged on the two.

Rossendale, to their credit, kept going to the end and were rewarded when their forwards drove over for a try. Ironically it was scored by Van Der Valt who should have been showered and changed at this point.

With two minutes to go the floodlights on one side of the ground went out and the referee called a halt to proceedings. Rochdale celebrated the easiest of wins, while for Rossendale it was back to the drawing board.