Rugby league: Rochdale Masters match reports

Curly Kershaw and Nick Todd

The Rochdale Masters RL side made a useful start to their campaign with a round robin tournament at Cadishead Rhinos.

The three-team outing saw each team play two games. Rochdale was up first with a tough encounter against hosts Cadishead; this was a cracking game with non stop action from start to finish.

Carl Abrahams boasted a couple of new signings in the team with ex-Heywood and Mayfield half back Nick Todd alongside ex-Mayfield Ian Risby. Both put in an excellent shift: Toddy, just pushing 4'11" was all over the pitch. If this lad was as tall as Curly, he would be devastating.

Both teams pulled on the years of experience to try and break the opposition defence but to no avail the game finished with neither side crossing the whitewash but both coming close on several occassions.

The second game against Bury Broncos saw Rochdale hit their stride and they were unstoppable, playing some fantastic Rugby League.

Todd and Risby were once again instrumental in the performance but this was a proper team showing. Chubbs Bywater, Tex Fletcher, Murgy and Rammy were outstanding.

Rochdale tries came from Nick Todd, Adam Bywater, Dave Ramsbottom, Colin Fletcher and John Schofield getting his first try in a masters shirt as he finished a great break from Fletcher.