Rochdale RUFC Under 15s 67 -12 Percy Park U15s

Rochdale RUFC Under 15s

Rochdale RUFC Under 15s saved their best performance of the season to register a commanding victory in a curtain raiser friendly match against touring side Percy Park on Saturday (18 April 2015).

A sunny morning and playing on the first team pitch, in front of a good crowd, had all the makings of a good platform for a great game of rugby.

The Rochdale team was decimated again and with a late injury to winger Dylan Keay the Under 15s were reliant on three Under 14s playing up to help out.

The Rochdale coaches asked the players to play expansive open rugby and to move the ball on every opportunity and they didn’t disappoint.

Percy Park kicked off and Rochdale settled quickly, winning the ball and using the width of the big pitch. A flowing move created by the forwards and finished by the backs, resulted in Salman Mammood, (who normally plays prop), supporting on the wing and scoring in the corner. The conversion was missed.

From the restart, Rochdale failed to collect the ball and Percy Park, scored in the corner.

Rochdale were experimenting with their forced line up and it wasn’t long before influential centre James Willets, side stepped and jinked his way through to score under the posts for fullback Jonni Allen to convert.

Captain Will Moore and fly half Andy Dean were linking well and another slick training ground move, saw Willets score again. Allen missed the kick.

Within minutes Willets scored again for his hat trick of tries and Allen converted.

From the restart, Rochdale failed again to gather in the kick off and let the ball bounce and unfortunately Percy Park were quicker to the loose ball and scored under the posts.

Rochdale’s front row of twins John and Will Armour with hooker Jordan Clarke, were winning most of the scrums and from a break out number eight Nico Rizelli went on one of his customary jaunts and was supported by Clarke for him to score in the corner. The conversion was missed.

Half time: Rochdale RUFC Under 15s 29 - 12 Percy Park U15s

Rochdale made changes, which gave Under 14 Beltus Nonteh his debut for the under 15s at prop and he did not disappoint.

Harvey Mann played in the second row and his partnership with fellow player Brandon Marshall, is something to look forward to next season.

Flankers Casey Brown and Brad Fox, played with their usual tenacity and gave the opposition a torrid time.

Dan Kelly, from the U14s, also proved his pace and tackling ability and did well.

Nico Rizelli decided it was time for him to put his name on the score sheet and burst through the opposition fending them off with ease.

At this stage Percy Park were definitely feeling the effects of the previous night on tour at Pontins and, unfortunately for them, Rochdale had saved their best performance for the final game of the season.

Danni Mammood, older brother to Salman, was not prepared to be outdone and scored out wide. The conversion was missed.

A further four tries followed, two from Rizelli and one each from Allen and Mann and Allen converted another three conversions to make the final score 67 -12 to Rochdale.

The Rochdale coaches were pleased, not so much with the scoreline, but with the way the team played the game, it was played at pace with passing and tackling.

More players will need to be recruited over the summer, but the platform is now in place.