Rugby Union: Blackburn 21 - 19 Rochdale

Photo: Sam Barlow

Blackburn 21- 19 Rochdale

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An almost full strength Rochdale side was very unlucky not to win against sixth placed Balckburn.

Blackburn started strongly  and put together an impressive attacking move that lead to their opening score. Centre Baines crossing the line in the corner. The try was converted.

Blackburn scored again following a tap penalty on the Rochdale 22 only when Baines again broke through the Rochdale defence to lay on a simple chance for his winger to score under the posts.

Rochdale came close to opneing their account when a good break by Oli Coldman ended with a penalty on the Blackburn 10 metre line. From the line out Rochdale had a good passing move led by Dick West who tried a grubber kick through the Blackburn defence which almost let in Jim Flitcroft but the ball just ran dead.

Rochdale continued to attack and Blackburn gave away a series of penalties for slowing the play.

A high kick from Coldman again just failed to find Flitcroft lurking wide on the right wing.

The pressure stayed on and West failed to take a long pass from scrum half Alan Tweedale with the Blackburn defence outpaced.

Rochdale had a scrum on the five-metre line and tried to push the Blackburn pack over the line but the referee decided the ball was not grounded.

All the Rochdale forwards including Hodgkinson, Hindle and captain Tom Callaghan did sterling work but despite long periods of possession went in at half time 14-0 down.

The second half started as the first had ended with the enterprising Rochdale attack stretching the Blackburn defence.

A long pass wide from Coldman went just over Flitcroft’s head with the line beckoning.

Yet another penalty 30 metres out saw Coldman try a kick which went just wide.

Despite winning nearly every line out Rochdale had slow ball to blame for not making more ground on Blackburn.

The ball went back and forth in a series of failed attacks, punctuated by penalties against Blackburn for slowing tactics and the referee finally lost patience and yellow carded the Blackburn second row for not rolling away.

The Rochdale forwards took the chance to batter the Blackburn line but failed to ground the ball after a drive from a penalty scrum from five metres out.

Flitcroft took a clearance kick from the Blackburn full back and began an attack with ball passing from right to left wing before finding Josh Schofield 20 metres out. Schofield beat three defenders to score a superb try in the corner. An impressive touchline conversion by Coldman followed.

Rochdale had their tails up and another classy move saw Flitcroft charge through the Blackburn defence to score the second Rochdale try. The conversion attempt fell short.

Almost from the kick off Blackburn put together a rare attack and managed to break the Rochdale defence and score under the posts.

With play back in the Blackburn half a maul developed and Hindle went to ground only to be stamped on by the Blackburn number eight, who was given a straight red.

With Blackburn down to 14 men, Rochdale turned the screw and brought on Wadsworth and Joesbury. The fresh legs made a difference as Blackburn began to tire.

Rochdale were getting the upper hand and with Jonny Bradley coming on a replacement Hooker they continued to win line out ball and press the Blackburn defence.

Macklin, in the centre, received a pass from Joesbury to break the Blackburn line and score. The try was converted by Coldman taking the score to 21-19 with just five minutes left on the clock.

Blackburn were hanging on desperately when they were awarded a penalty 30 metres out. They decided to kick but saw the ball went wide. However, time had been used up and the referee blew the final whistle.

Next Saturday sees Rochdale at home to Leigh in a crunch game at the bottom of the table.