Dinnington 33 - 19 Rochdale RUFC

Photo: Tim Taylor

Rochdale try - Dinnington v Rochdale RUFC

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In an intense game of rugby with both teams playing at a fast pace in an attempt to gain the upper hand, Rochdale were left chasing the game after Dinnington had established a good lead. Though they scored a converted try to get within one score of Dinnington, they left themselves exposed and two tries in the last five minutes sealed the game Dinnington.

Rochdale were quickly on the attack, helped by two penalties in their favour, but having established a good attacking platform, penalties against them at the next two set pieces allowed Dinnington to make a brief incursion into the Rochdale half. A loose pass allowed Rochdale to take play back into the home half where it remained for the first twenty nine minutes.

The Rochdale backs were running well but the Dinnington defence was standing firm, forcing the attacking wingers into touch on a couple of occasions. The forwards also had some good runs with Tom Hindle, Oli Saparamadu and Andy Donoghue prominent but Dinnington’s defence was good as they put fewer men into the breakdowns, increasing their defending numbers.

Eventually the Rochdale pressure told with a line out ten metres from the Dinnington line. A good catch and drive by the forwards, who then released the ball, allowed a smart move across the backs to feed fullback Jim Flitcroft on the burst to score a fine try. Well converted in the blustery wind by Oli Coldman.

Dinnington were stung by this set back and their forwards, having been well held by the Rochdale pack, turned to their backs as they ran back a Rochdale kick shortly after the restart. Excellent passing and support play brought them a fine try. Well converted by out half Jonny West.

Spurred by this success Dinnington attacked from the restart, making ground before a knock on stopped their progress. Winning the resulting scrum against the head, Dinnington ran the ball once more, good movement and support play setting their left wing clear to score a try - though the final pass looked well forward. Another good conversion by West.

Andy Donoghue had turned an ankle had been replaced in the second row by the somewhat lighter Chris Hodgkinson and it appeared that the scrums, initially dominated by Rochdale, were now finding Dinnington the stronger eight as half time approached.

Rochdale started with a bang in the second half, winning a lineout close to the home line within two minutes from which their forwards caught and drove the ball over the line for a strong collective try. Coldman’s kick from wide out and into the wind hit the post and just stayed out.

For the next twenty minutes both sides ran the ball at every chance but Rochdale were conceding penalties in kickable positions and West succeeded with three conversions, the last going in off a post to give Dinnington a useful lead.

Rochdale returned to the attack and a couple of errors by the Dinnington gave Rochdale scrum half Alun Tweedale the chance to pounce on a loose ball behind the home line for a try. Converted by Coldman to bring the score to 23-19.

Rochdale were now chasing the game but a penalty to Dinnington saw West kick to within fifteen metres of the Rochdale line where the Dinnington showed that they too could catch and drive for a forward try.

Minutes later the Rochdale scrum was turned and from the following scrum Dinnington set up a fine backs movement to score with the last action of the match - and perhaps make the final score look a little generous.