Rochdale Cobras 41 – 0 Mancunians

Rochdale Cobras 41 – 0 Mancunians

Rochdale Cobras put in a superb performance against a well drilled team Mancunians team to win without conceding a single point.

Mancunians came to Firgrove in confident mood Saturday having taken some big scalps in the league of late with their new look coaching staff and play makers, however, Cobras have dropped points only once in the last ten home games.

It quickly became apparent that the game was looking like business as usual for the locals as hit ups from Lee Moore, Gaz Wood and James Mils caused the Salford lads problems in defence leaving Cobras half backs Alex West and Liam Hughes room to do as they pleased.

It was only a matter of time before they broke the deadlock and they did so when winger Pete Marland got on the end of a neat training ground play on the last tackle to go in out wide. West added the extras.

Cobras were gaining ground with ease throughout the opening period but lacked the killer instinct in the final phase and it was a further 16 minutes before Cobras scored again, this time captain Dan Catlow crashed over from close range. West converted for what was the last points of the half.

Stern Words from Catlow and coach Ben Bird at the interval fuelled by missed chances had the Cobras chomping at the bit from the restart.

Tom Mils showed his strength and broke numerous tackles to go over from 20 yards. West adding the two.

Cobras form forward James Mils was the next to crash over, the recipient of a fine Ryan Tetley off load. West converted.

West was next over cleverly exposing the same weakness the Mils brothers had found in Mancunians’s right flank. He missed the conversion.

Cobras full back Tom Hadley stepped his opposite number and out passed his cover to go in under the posts. West adding the two.

Mancuinans now clearly playing for pride rallied and had the lion’s share of possession for the next few sets but outstanding defending from Tetley, Chris McCormack, Todd Whittle and Dylan O’Shea ensured there was no way in.

A Liam Hughes drop goal and a James Mils try put the final nail in the Mancunian's coffin.

Cobras head coach Ben Bird added: “The performance was the best of the season so far both in terms of committed defence and attacking structure. To score 41 unanswered points against any team is a great effort, but against such a well drilled team coached by such well respected coaches was outstanding.

“The team has an average age of just 21 but the talent throughout is unquestionable.

"This year the club decided to enter the NWML Division 4 to allow Cobra's young talent a more comfortable pathway to the upper echelons of open age rugby.

“This has paid off massively, with players old and new thriving in a rejuvenated squad with a mutual respect throughout. This has led to a swell in numbers training and subsequently playing. Hence the club being able for the first time in a long while to field two teams.

“A real measure of our progress is our gaining a spot in the NWML Plate Final on 20 August at Wigan St Patrick's ARLFC. I've got no doubt the lads will do the club and Rochdale proud, hopefully bringing back some silverware.”

Man-of-the-match was Ryan Tetley for his non-stop defence and near perfect distribution going forward - he was run close by youngsters Tom Hadley and James Mils and two fine débutants in Dougie Kelly and Todd Whittles.

Rochdale Cobras Team: Hadley, Marland, Catlow (c), T Mils, T Whittles, Hughes, West, Kelly, Tetley, Moore, McCormack, J Mils, G Wood, Holton, O’Shea, Lighfoot, Rauqe-Bau.