Rugby Union: Bowdon 22 - 20 Rochdale

On a bright sunny afternoon in Cheshire, Rochdale were looking to do the double over promotion contenders Bowdon and challenge for second place in the league.

On a hard pitch with a strong breeze blowing across it, Rochdale looked to have matched the big Bowdon pack, but from a Rochdale lineout on half way the ball was a judged not straight and the home side went on a powerful charge from the penalty, and crossed the line near the posts for an easy 7-0 lead.

The penalty count grew against Rochdale, and the constant off sides of the home team seemed to be ignored, frustration crept in and after being warned once, Andrew Foster was given a yellow for use of the boot in the clear out on the Bowdon tackler in a ruck on half way.

Bowdon used this to their advantage and from a scrum on the Rochdale five-metre line, the scrum half found a gap and dived in for the second try which was not converted, the wind now becoming a big factor for both kickers.

Rochdale were back on the attack with Jimmy Flitcroft taking a high clearance and racing through the home defence to the 22 line where a foul tackle cost a scrum.

Bowdon were penalized again at the line out and Coldman had a good chance with the kick from 30-metres, but the wind blew the ball back yards short of the posts.

The Bowdon pack were being dismantled by Tom Callaghan and his forwards Shaun Needham, and Ross Hartley in particular, tackling everything that moved.

Finally, the home defence reeling on their line gave away yet another penalty, and Needham did the damage passing short to Alex Isherwood to go in for a well-deserved try.

Again, Coldman’s kick was just wide in the swirling wind 12-5.

Rochdale were soon back on the attack but with the ball lost on the Bowdon 22 line the home side tried to pass their way out using their big centres to pound the Rochdale defence, but a clumsy forward pass saw the visitors win yet another scrum just over half way.

Shaun Needham broke through the middle after a Rochdale line out and crossed the line, only to have the referee pull back play for a tackle on a defender without the ball by Hartley.

Needham won a line out on half way and powered through on the left-wing, drawing defenders and slipping a short pass to Blair Bomber Henry for the winger to go in at the corner.

12-10 was the half time score with Rochdale regretting the missed kicks which would have seen them well in front.

The second half saw Rochdale, with the wind at their backs, with James Duffy and Ollie Coldman using high kicks to test the Bowdon defence, their full back did well but with all scrums and most line outs going Rochdale’s way they made little progress.

On the hour mark the ever-present Ross Hartley linked in with Needham and Isherwood to cross the line for a neat try by the posts this time.

Coldman had little trouble converting 12-17 to Rochdale.

A break by the Bowdon winger was covered well and tackled into touch by Duffy, the attack continued to the Rochdale five metre line where Bowdon used a penalty tap and go and the try went in by the posts 19-17.

The game was then spoiled from Rochdale’s point of view after a Bowdon prop went off injured, and despite being replaced by a large forward player, the referee decides that all scrums will go uncontested, this caused some consternation in the Rochdale camp, as the advantage of the visitors dominated scrum was lost.

This situation only caused the visitors to re-double their efforts and a penalty goes to Duffy 30 metres out, this time he slots the kick well and the score goes back to 19-20 to Rochdale.

Both sides go all out for the win, Jack Green comes on as sub and is soon in the action being tackled on halfway.

The scrums are a farce at this level and have little meaning, Bowdon got into position for a possible drop attempt but eventually got a penalty on the Rochdale 22 line, right in front of the posts, and a young full back made no mistake 22-20 with five minutes to go.

An all-out attack by Rochdale saw them win another kickable penalty 35 metres out, Duffy had a go this time only to see it drop just short.

The ball was taken by Needham from the drop out and he passed inside to Duffy who took a high tackle by a desperate defender, the referee gave the penalty but no card, the penalty kick from all of 30 metres struck the upright and bounced down for the full back to heave into touch with the final whistle blowing.

Final score 22-20 to Bowdon.

David Rhodes RRUFC said: “Bowdon must count themselves very lucky to have won this one and Rochdale were left rueing their missed kicks and wondering how uncontested scrums at this level can be allowed.

“Rochdale slip to fourth and promotion chances are looking slim.

“We have two free weekends now, then we are at home to Leigh on the 9 March.”