Rugby Union: Manchester 38 - 7 Rochdale RUFC

Rochdale Rugby Union Football Club

Rochdale RUFC played without their full complement of players but gave a good account of themselves despite defeat against an experienced Manchester side.

Manchester opened the scoring when a drop goal attempt hit the posts and bounced back to their wing forward who went over close to the posts.

Rochdale kept in the game with good runs Josh Schofield and Chris Hodgkinson only failing due to poor handling on the final pass.

Manchester moved the ball well with their number eight breaking through the Rochdale defence and starting a move, which came out to the right wing for a second try. Well converted from the touchline.

A series of penalties saw the game flow from end-to-end but Rochdale could not break through the Manchester defence whilst the home side carved holes in the visitor’s lines enabling their winger to squeeze in at the corner again. The kick was missed.

Rochdale had several chances before a poor clearance kick from the Manchester full back went straight to Olly Coldman. He sprinted through the Manchester defensive line and released Blair Henry who outpaced the full back to score a try under the posts. Coldman converted.

Rochdale made changes for the second half with Harry Hill coming on at hooker and Daz James at scrum half. Ged Woolfenden also joined the fray in the back row.

Manchester were on the score sheet again early in the second half with a well worked try from the wing half going under the posts.

After a penalty for a high tackle Manchester were given a chance to score when another dropped pass was intercepted by the quick outside centre to score his second try of the afternoon.

With less than ten minutes to go Manchester scored their last try after a bizarre pass on the Rochdale line that hit the posts and was not picked up right away, which led to a good passing move and the try came wide. The conversion attempt missed.

Try as they might Rochdale could get no further than the Manchester 22 - Josh Schofield coming closest to a breakthrough.