Back
Anselmians do double
Tony McArdle26 Mar - 16:22
Saints come out on top in closely contested match with champions Rossendale
The last home game of the season saw Rossendale visit Eastham, champions elect Rossendale 10 points clear with 2 games to go only needed 1 point to mathematically be certain to be crowned champions and promotion to national 2 North, only 2 losses this season they were no doubt confident going into the game. Saints with only a couple of changes due to injury in the backs had a full-strength pack for a change where confident of not making it easy for Dale.
Straight from the kick off, the Saints pack dominated the physically bigger Dale pack in the collision’s rucks and mauls, with the Crowe brothers making breaks supported well by Holmes who was breaking tackles and making good yards whenever he got the ball. With Saints pinning Dale in their own 22 and ignoring penalty options Saints went for the corner only for John Whittaker to be tackled inches short of crossing the line. On the 2nd attempt Ben Jones slipped the ball out to the wing where Theo Chapman went in near the corner to open the scoring, Nick Baldwin stepped up to add the extras calmly slotting between the posts 7-0 to Saints.
Dale responded just after the restart with a penalty 25m out to bring the score to 7-3, almost immediately by a try in the corner by Barbarinsa to score out wide, unable to convert it left Saints trailing 7-8 but not for long as a moment of magic from Liam Sadler saw him intercept a pass just over the half way line and sprint towards the Dale line with nobody near him, converted by the ever reliable Baldwin for a 14-8 lead. Rossendale are not top of the league for no reason, and continued to pound the Saints line, gaining another breakdown penalty and opting to take the points to make it 14-11D ale had a sustained period of pressure but were unable to breach the try line until a loose pass was picked up and Dale went in the corner, conversion scored putting Saints 14-18 down. With half time beckoning, Saints pressed towards the Dale line, again ignoring the chance of 3 points and going to the corner, Joe Sanders was driven over the line and with Baldwin getting the extras the ref blew for Half time with Saints at 21-18 up.
After the restart Dale had the opportunity to pull back but missed a penalty, however 10 mins later an excellent run by winger Babarinsa {Dales MOM} saw him slip 3 tackles and slip the ball to Stephens to go under the posts easily converted and give Dale a 21-25 lead, with 1 more try a bonus point would be all they needed to secure automatic promotion. With Saints down to 14 after a high tackle things where looking good for Dale, however their discipline started to wane, title nerves perhaps and within 2 minutes a comment to the referee was penalised, again Saints confident in their line out, Dales was poor throughout the game, and their superior maul went to the corner. With another perfect throw to Will Grabe, Joe Sanders joined the back of the maul collecting the ball then breaking away to score his 2nd try of the game and with it converted again by Baldwin 28-25 to Saints. Dale’s discipline went from bad to worse with a yellow card which saw them down to 14 for the remainder of the contest, they had the chance to pull it back from a penalty but was wide. Saints back to 15 by this time pressed again and last play of the game saw Saints go for a drop goal, unfortunately charged down. Final score 28-25 to the Saints The 5-point win means the worse Saints can finish is 4th in the league and 2nd depending on the last game results. Rossendale creep over the line with their 1 point for being within 7 points and are crowned Champions well done to them. Man of the match went to the smallest man on the pitch Sam Cotgrave who put in some outstanding textbook tackles in defence against some big players.
Straight from the kick off, the Saints pack dominated the physically bigger Dale pack in the collision’s rucks and mauls, with the Crowe brothers making breaks supported well by Holmes who was breaking tackles and making good yards whenever he got the ball. With Saints pinning Dale in their own 22 and ignoring penalty options Saints went for the corner only for John Whittaker to be tackled inches short of crossing the line. On the 2nd attempt Ben Jones slipped the ball out to the wing where Theo Chapman went in near the corner to open the scoring, Nick Baldwin stepped up to add the extras calmly slotting between the posts 7-0 to Saints.
Dale responded just after the restart with a penalty 25m out to bring the score to 7-3, almost immediately by a try in the corner by Barbarinsa to score out wide, unable to convert it left Saints trailing 7-8 but not for long as a moment of magic from Liam Sadler saw him intercept a pass just over the half way line and sprint towards the Dale line with nobody near him, converted by the ever reliable Baldwin for a 14-8 lead. Rossendale are not top of the league for no reason, and continued to pound the Saints line, gaining another breakdown penalty and opting to take the points to make it 14-11D ale had a sustained period of pressure but were unable to breach the try line until a loose pass was picked up and Dale went in the corner, conversion scored putting Saints 14-18 down. With half time beckoning, Saints pressed towards the Dale line, again ignoring the chance of 3 points and going to the corner, Joe Sanders was driven over the line and with Baldwin getting the extras the ref blew for Half time with Saints at 21-18 up.
After the restart Dale had the opportunity to pull back but missed a penalty, however 10 mins later an excellent run by winger Babarinsa {Dales MOM} saw him slip 3 tackles and slip the ball to Stephens to go under the posts easily converted and give Dale a 21-25 lead, with 1 more try a bonus point would be all they needed to secure automatic promotion. With Saints down to 14 after a high tackle things where looking good for Dale, however their discipline started to wane, title nerves perhaps and within 2 minutes a comment to the referee was penalised, again Saints confident in their line out, Dales was poor throughout the game, and their superior maul went to the corner. With another perfect throw to Will Grabe, Joe Sanders joined the back of the maul collecting the ball then breaking away to score his 2nd try of the game and with it converted again by Baldwin 28-25 to Saints. Dale’s discipline went from bad to worse with a yellow card which saw them down to 14 for the remainder of the contest, they had the chance to pull it back from a penalty but was wide. Saints back to 15 by this time pressed again and last play of the game saw Saints go for a drop goal, unfortunately charged down. Final score 28-25 to the Saints The 5-point win means the worse Saints can finish is 4th in the league and 2nd depending on the last game results. Rossendale creep over the line with their 1 point for being within 7 points and are crowned Champions well done to them. Man of the match went to the smallest man on the pitch Sam Cotgrave who put in some outstanding textbook tackles in defence against some big players.
Further reading