Rochdale RUFC 24 - 15 Percy Park

Rochdale closed their league season with a hard-earned win against a spirited Percy Park side to secure their third place league position in North 1 East.

The game opened with the visitors using their big forwards to good effect, keeping play in the home 22 for the first ten minutes or so.

When Rochdale managed to force their way up to the own 10 metre line they won good quick ball from a scrum and half backs Neave and Duffy delivered early ball to the three-quarters where Jonny Mair held the Park defence for a split second to allow centre partner Josh Schofield to zip through on an outside break. As he hit the visitors 22 his pass to winger Coldman was knocked down by the Park centre. Scrum-half Neave took a quick tap and moved the ball left to Schofield again, this time he put through a hard grubber kick which bounced wickedly for the covering Park fullback and allowed him to touch down for the first try. Coldman saw his kick held in the strong cross wind and fall just short. 

Percy Park renewed their efforts at the restart and held play around the home 22. After a few phases, putting the pressure on the Rochdale defence, they looked to have put their winger away on the touch line but a fine cover tackle by Callum Duffin snuffed out the danger.

It was only momentary relief as the burly, but fleet-footed, Park centre cut back on the angle and danced his way through the initial defence and this time it was captain Rob Neave who produced a splendid tackle deep in his own 22.

Rochdale infringed at the ensuing ruck and the Park fullback made the score.

Park fumbled the restart and Ross Hartley, back to his marauding best, pressured the half backs and the ball bobbled loose. Tom Hindle swooped and scooped it up to back row partner Mike Bradwell who drove into the away 22.

It was Park’s turn to win a turn-over ball and kicking wisely they deposited Rochdale back into their own 22 once more.

Park shot themselves in the foot by giving away a penalty at the line-out, allowing Rochdale to clear to half way. Pat Philbin, the Rochdale hooker, popped up among the backs and popped a clever overhead pass to Coldman on the right who cut inside and set the ball moving left. Neave made an electric half break and fed Mair who found fullback Jimmy Flitcroft in rapid support and he crossed for Rochdale's second try, which Coldman duly converted.

Having dented Park’s confidence, Rochdale began to dominate play a little more. Bob Birtwell was making inroads through the forwards, supported by Donoghue, Saparamadu and Callaghan at close quarters and Philbin was an extra backrow or link with his backs, alongside scrum half Neave.

When the visitors did get on the front foot the full backrow of Hartley, Hindle and Bradwell were in determined tackling mode.

In this purple patch Rochdale scored their third try from a scrum 40 metres out. Mike Bradwell broke close to the scrum on the blindside and handed on to Rob Reave who shot through a gap and passed early to Ollie Coldman on the right wing. As the cover closed in Coldman kept his head and fed back inside to Neave who went over untouched. 

Park were stung into action and put together a short period of pressure before the break. Their bustling centre was again to the fore taking play to the home 22 before the stand-off half won them a clever line out forcing Rochdale to scramble into touch just outside the home five metre line. Park won the ball and set their huge number eight in motion to break the first line defence and allow his scrum half to snipe over near the posts, making the extras a formality.

Half Time: Rochdale RUFC 19 - 10 Percy Park

The second half saw Park focus their play more determinedly through their large pack and Rochdale faced wave after wave of ‘pick and drive.’

The Rochdale team, to a man, were up for the challenge and there were numerous notable tackles, including one from Tom Callaghan round the ankles of Park’s second rower who was proving quite a handful.

It wasn’t only defence Rochdale were playing, a tandem tackle by Hindle and Hartley gave the home side possession and they took their turn to drive at the visitors.

Another pick up by Bradwell at the back of a scrum on the halfway line saw him feed Duffy who found touch 10 metres from the Percy Park line. This time Park won the line out and cleared well but Rochdale were not in the mood to be denied. Birtwell and Donoghue drove back into the 22 where Pat Philbin was on hand to race over for a well-deserved try and the ‘bonus point’ fourth try for his team. It was a neat reward for his afternoon’s efforts. Coldman’s conversion attempt drifted narrowly wide of the posts.

Percy Park battled their way to the home 22 where a break in play allowed Rob Ward to replace Tom Callaghan. He made an immediate impression making a fine tackle on the Park stand-off but it needed another such tackle from Donoghue to give Rochdale possession and Duffy a chance to clear the ball into touch near the halfway line.

Park were not going to be denied. They ran the ball wide to the right, then back down the middle through their forwards and finally moved it left where the battling number 12 finally scored a well-deserved for his efforts. The conversion was pushed wide by the troublesome cross-wind to deny Park a losing bonus point.

Rochdale’s league season ended on a high-note and the two year sojourn to the ‘orient’ proved a successful venture both on and off the field. Rochdale now await their Lancashire Trophy home semi-final, at Moorgate Avenue, Bamford, and possibly an appearance in the final.