DMPRFC 62 v ROCHDALE RFC 17

Things started badly for Mowden, when Marty LITHGO pulled up in the pre-match warm up with a hamstring injury, forcing the home side to re-shuffle, sending Ritchie YOUNG into scrum half and bringing Alan JONES on to the bench.

It didn’t get better, as after three minutes of play, no.8 George STUDD suffered a shoulder injury, forcing player/coach Pete TAYLOR into an early appearance.

From then on, it was one way traffic, as Mowden racked up the tries, scoring six before oranges.

The first saw James KNOX power his way to the line from the opposition 22 metre line. (5 – 0)

Lock Michael FORDE added another, as he cut a line straight through the middle of the Rochdale defence from ten metres out. Gavin PAINTER added the extras. (12 – 0)

On his debut, Liam RILEY (pictured) was unfortunate not to hold on to a scoring pass earlier, but made up for it with a try shortly afterwards, when his persistence paid off, jinking his way through the visitors’ defence to touch down close to the posts. Again, Gavin PAINTER was on hand to slot the conversion. (19 – 0)

In his new role, Ritchie YOUNG proved no slouch as he too got in on the action, scoring a try of his own, after finding the gap. (24 – 0)

Rochdale tried to compete, but could not live with the pace of the game throughout, but they themselves got in on the scoring, after a lapse of concentration by the home defence saw a line break and some deft inter passing saw a score in the home corner.
(24 – 5)

Anxious to get in on the action, Rob EATOUGH (pictured) set the pitch alight with a blistering four try salvo, two tries either side of half time. Having watched his team mates clock up the tries, he decided to intervene, scoring two good tries before oranges. The first, his usual mazy run and the second an interception as Rochdale pressed the home line, warranting him having to run 75 metres to the line and then emulating England winger Chris ASHTON with the touchdown. Both tries were converted by Gavin PAINTER, for a half time head of 38 – 5.

In games like these, sometimes it is difficult to keep up the scoring momentum and so it proved at times.

However, this was not experienced initially by Mowden, as Robin EATOUGH blew away the Rochdale defence, scoring two more tries within 10 minutes of the restart. Both were added to by Gavin PAINTER.

At this point young Liam RILEY left the field with a leg injury, to a standing ovation from the home supporters, forcing a reshuffle in the Mowden ranks. Charlie MASSARELLA stepped up to the flank, as Alan JONES came on as replacement.

Mowden hooker Will KAY added a try, before all the reshuffles started to have a disrupting effect on the home side, as they lost concentration, allowing the game Rochdale backs to cut loose and score a couple of tries of their own, one of which was converted.

Towards the end of the game, Mowden lost two players through the hamstring sniper and played with thirteen men, but any fears of more points for the visitors were dispelled as Robin EATOUGH scored at the death, taking his own personal tally to five tries.

All in all a very good home performance.