ROCHDALE RFC 15 v DMPRFC 48

Regardless of Rochdale RFC’s lowly league position, this potential banana skin was well and truly overcome with a more clinical display than has been witnessed of late.

Mowden’s away form had been excellent previously and on this display, nothing had changed from that perspective, save for the fact that a recent run of bad results was addressed and halted.

Rochdale RFC were certainly up for the challenge and had predicted an upset on the back of Mowden’s recent poor form and a reasonable attempt against Beverley RFC the week previous.

But once the game had begun at Moorgate Avenue, the result was never in doubt, just a case of how many.

Mowden began in barnstorming fashion and soon fashioned the first try through forward persistence, allowing James KNOX, who had a fine game at No.8, to touch down from close range after five minutes. Gavin PAINTER converted.

James KNOX scored his brace, again after some strong forward forays, with Gavin PAINTER adding the extras.

This was closely followed by the first of Robin EATOUGH’s three tries, as the backs got in on the proceedings and quick hands allowed the winger all the space he needed to outpace the covering defence.

Rochdale spoiled the party with a decent try after Mowden’s superiority conspired to produce defensive errors, but normal service was resumed a short while later, when Marty LITHGO found the gap for the first of his two tries.

Ralph APPLEBY at this stage, was forced to bow out through injury, allowing the impressive Kaiwaidau Simione to take the field.

The second of Marty LITHGO’s tries followed in quick succession as the scrum half ran the show and the defenders were unable to handle his inventiveness. Gavin PAINTER added the extras and Mowden had the bonus point in the bag as oranges arrived, with the score at 5 – 31.

There is always a difficulty to keep the momentum going when a side is so dominant and it took a little time after oranges for Mowden to settle.

All credit to Rochdale during the period after oranges. They were not just going to sit back and watch the Mowden show and they were determined to give it their all.

An individual try through the middle of the defence by Ben SNOOK, broke the deadlock, as he smashed his way through and kept going to the line. Again Gavin PAINTER converted.

In the midst of all this, Rochdale scored two unconverted tries, as Mowden lapsed in concentration somewhat.

Ian HODGSON replaced Ben SNOOK, followed by a first run out of the season for winger Alan JONES, for Ritchie YOUNG.

One of the biggest cheers of the day revolved around Alan JONES, who saw his opportunity to legitimately smash an unfortunate Rochdale player in possession and took it with all the precision of an Exocet missile.

However, this reversal of fortune for Rochdale was short lived, as in the last ten minutes, Robin EATOUGH showed the class he had threatened all day, by scoring two tries of his own to complete his hatrick.

At the final whistle, the score of 15 – 48 reflected Mowden’s dominance, with several performances worthy of note, particularly from Grahame SEDDON, Chris STRONG, Michael FORDE and Gavin PAINTER, all of whom did not get on the score sheet in the game, but made massive contributions to the outcome.