Rochdale U15s 19 - 22 Liverpool Colleagiates U15s

Rochdale U15s missed out on a place in the Lancashire Blacksticks final being defeated in the semi-final by Liverpool Colleagiates at Moorgate Avenue on Sunday (15 March).

Rochdale began brightly and bossed the early scrums and lineouts, the forwards giving the backs plenty of early ball.

Nico Rizzelli opened the scoring, taking the ball on the blind side from a scrum and bursting round the outside to run through the Liverpool defence fending off all defenders to score under the posts. Jonni Allen converted.

Rochdale were playing into the wind and a flowing move through hands looked like a certain try, however Bradley Fox gave one pass too many and the referee adjudged the pass to be forward.

Liverpool came back at Rochdale and were awarded several penalties and scored a try in the far corner. The conversion was missed.

Half Time: Rochdale U15s 7 - 5 Liverpool Colleagiates U15s

Rochdale captain Will Moore rallied his troops and, from the restart, Bradley Fox picked the ball up and went on a forging run to score under the posts. Allen converted.

Rochdale tails were up and the backs, led by fly half Andy Dean, with centres Danny Mammood and Harvey Mann, looked dangerous each time they went on their surging runs.

However, Liverpool’s big strong number eight was causing Rochdale lots of problems and from one of his runs he sent the ball out to their pacey winger. Allen missed his cover tackle and Liverpool scored under the posts. The kick was converted.

Flankers Casey Brown and Bradley Fox were immense and Rochdale’s pack was having another good game, with the Rochdale front row of Will and John Armour and hooker Jordan Clarke winning most of the scrums and indeed Clarke with his turn of speed, showed what a versatile hooker he can be.

Liverpool’s fly half had a lovely boot on him and from one of his kicks, he sent his winger on a chase. Rochdale’s cover should have been enough, but they did not clear the ball and the Liverpool winger hacked on the ball to score out wide to put Liverpool in front for the first time in the game. The conversion was missed.

Wingers Ryan Green and Dylan Keay were lively and Green almost managed to score following a 40 metre dash only for the ball to run over the dead ball line.

Liverpool came on the attack again and scored their final try of the game.

From the kick off, Brandon Marshall won the ball and, with his second row team mate Kyle Dixon and Rhys Stone, drove to the line. From the subsequent ruck, Rochdale managed to get the ball out wide to Danni Mammood who scored out wide. Allen missed the conversion.

The referee then brought the game to a conclusion.