Warrington RUFC 10 - 22 Rochdale RUFC

After the enforced break last weekend the loyal band of Rochdale supporters were treated to an exciting display from their young team as they contained the free-scoring Warrington side and ran out worthy winners.

The confident Warrington side, lying third in the league, opened strongly and for the first ten minutes kept Rochdale pinned in their own 22. However, there was a noticeable steel in the Rochdale tackling and a calm determination which held this early flurry from Warrington.

Gradually, with good possession from a strong scrum it was Rochdale who worked their way steadily up the field.

From another scrum on the home 22, Andy Donoghue ran strongly and linked with his backs who gave Oli Coldman a chance of a run down the right. The Warrington defence was able to smother his threat but quick support from Tom Hindle meant Sean Needham was able to draw the defence and quick hands from half backs Surridge and Duffy saw fullback Jimmy Flitcroft in for the first score. Coldman added the conversion.

The Rochdale pack was gelling as a unit and an arrow like throw to the safe hands of Tom Helliwell again supplied good quick ball for their backs. This time centre Jon Mair held the Warrington midfield with a delightful delayed pass and Josh Schofield burst through the gap. He outpaced the cover, drew the fullback and was unfortunate to see his winger uncharacteristically fumble his pass with the try line open in front of him.

Such was the attitude of the Rochdale attack, they kept the pressure on the home defence and forced a penalty 15m out which Coldman duly dispatched. 

Captain Tom Callaghan was leading his forwards by example with his aggressive tackling and hard, low drives but showed his all-round ability when behind a loose scrummage he deftly swept the ball to his backs to mount another threatening attack which was forced into touch just inside the home 22.

Warrington hoisted a huge kick to the Rochdale 10m line and a brave leap by out half Duffy saw him come down awkwardly, injuring an ankle. Scrum half Dom Surridge also injured his ankle and had to leave the field at the same time.

What could have been a body blow to Rochdale ambitions was met with a steely determination as coach Mike Gould moved young Jake Castree to the left wing to allow Chris Hodgkinson to join the back row and Travis Townsend to switch to scrum half. Rob Willets came on to the right wing as Oli Coldman moved into out half.

Rochdale won a line out on the half way line and Coldman skipped through the inside backs to create a gap for the supporting Townsend, who found Castree on a run down the blind-side. The Warrington cover managed to haul him down on the 5m line and finally clear their line.

Respite for Warrington was short lived as the Rochdale front three, Callaghan, Harry Hill and hooker Johnny Bradley, won good quick ball for number eight Donoghue to break blind and set Flitcroft and Townsend free to cleverly inter-pass - Townsend getting the try out wide. It was a tricky kick but a confident Coldman added the extras.

Warrington finally got some quick possession and forced their way into the Rochdale 22 with strong running from midfield backs Smith and Johnstone, but the threat was covered and the whistle drew the half to a close.

Half time: Warrington 0 - 17 Rochdale Rugby Union

Warrington opened the second half in very determined fashion, playing with a much quicker tempo and put Rochdale on the back foot.

One move from a scrum just outside the Rochdale 22 saw the Warrington fullback cut against the grain on a curve that broke the Rochdale defensive line and he was only thwarted by a desperate cover tackle by Donoghue.

Warrington pressured Rochdale to give away a penalty and put their first points on the board courtesy of Darren Norman.

From the kick off Rochdale pressured the catcher and an alert Johnny Bradley gathered a loose ball to set Sean Needham on a charge deep into the Warrington 22. Warrington proved up to the challenge and cleared with a kick to their 10m. From the line-out a maul ensued, which collapsed or was brought down and a Warrington player was shown the yellow card.

With a man down, the Warrington scrum was under great pressure. Rochdale could release quick ball and scrum half Townsend fed Flitcroft and Castree down the blind side.

Warrington were still in the game and good cover halted that thrust but Rochdale's forwards, exhorted by Callaghan and Needham, took play to the 5m line.

Warrington were forced to give away a penalty and Rochdale elected for the scrum. The pack steadily walked the home scrum over their line and Andy Donoghue kept control and dotted down for the try. Into the wind, Coldman's kick was just short.

From the deep kick off Rob Willets collected and set off on a mazy run into midfield before handing on to Coldman, who had Mair on hand to bring the ball back to the forwards for Sean Needham to treat the crowd to a Campese step before being tackled into touch.

Captain Callaghan was replaced by Dale Slamon who went on to have an impressive cameo appearance using his strength to good effect on a tiring Warrington eight. He was very unlucky to be denied a try as he wrenched the ball out of a maul and twisted his way over the line only for the referee to decide it was held up.

Warrington had one last effort in them as a wayward kick in a Rochdale break out set them on the attack from just inside the Rochdale half. A rare moment of tired minds as much as legs in the Rochdale defence allowed Warrington to weave a bit of magic and ghost in for a well-executed try.

This was a sparkling display from a young Rochdale side, which found its collective confidence and played to its true potential. They should be justly pleased with the win but must also remember it could, and should, have been a bonus point win.