Rugby union: Rochdale Senior Colts 17 - 14 Caldy Senior Colts

After a protracted Christmas break, extended by the inclement weather, Rochdale Senior Colts finally got back to business with a home fixture against Caldy on Sunday 29 January.

Caldy have been a top-flight team for some time and Rochdale have not been victorious in any of their previous encounters. However, Rochdale have been playing some good rugby up until the break and were keen to measure themselves against strong opposition, even with several players missing due to the North of England trials, playing for the Irish Exiles and out through injury.

Caldy started the game strongly and gradually moved down the field to camp in the Rochdale 22. After several infringements, Caldy kicked for position and, from a lineout close to the Rochdale line, were able to force their way over for the opening score (0-7).

Rochdale were impressive with an immediate response, securing the ball from the kick off and building through the phases, stretching the Caldy defence. This front-foot ball allowed James O'Connell to make the half break before finding Gabe Fraser on the outside who cantered in for the score (5-7).

 

 

Rochdale were in the ascendancy now and continued to press. The visitors were struggling to cope with the Rochdale ruck speed, which resulted in several penalties in the Caldy 22. Rochdale refused the easy 3 points and chose to tap and run the ball. Ben Sunderland carried the ball through a couple of tackles and, whilst being held just short of the line, was able to offload to Jake Hopkins who cut through the remaining defenders to touchdown (10-7).

The wind was assisting Caldy in the first half and their fly-half was using it intelligently to move his team down the field and put Rochdale under pressure again. However, the Rochdale defence was holding fast and dominating the contact area. Paddy O’Loughlin, Jacob Jackson and Will Rawlinson were instrumental in driving the Caldy attackers backwards. It took a bit of individual skill from the Caldy scrum half to force an errant pass which bounced between the Rochdale centres before being hacked forward and grounded over the Rochdale line (10-14).

Again, there was no panic from the Rochdale players’ they just got back on task and, after more sustained pressure on the Caldy line, Theo Standford-Campbell picked up from the ruck and drove through to touchdown (17-14) in the final play of the first half.

The second half saw Rochdale get on top of the opposition; Mitch Holt controlled the game with some pin-point kicks taking advantage of the following wind and pinning Caldy back in their own 22. Rochdale's kicking in general was much improved and it became increasingly difficult for Caldy to exit their half. Despite their advantage in both territory and possession, Rochdale were unable to convert this into points which made for a very nervy final quarter. As the clock ran into the red, Rochdale forced Caldy into a handling error and that brought the game to an end (17-14).

It was a terrific all-round team performance from Rochdale which moved them into a share of top spot in the league. The home team took the points on offer in the first half and controlled the game in the second, limiting Caldy to a few fruitless forays into Rochdale territory.

Man of the match went to Mitch Holt whose tactical kicking ensured Caldy were kept at arm’s length for much of the game. Special mention to all the junior colts who did not look out of place in a very competitive match.

Sean Sunderland