First Team just fall short at Rochdale

With three enforced, last minute, changes to the Squad that was selected on Thursday night, Leigh set off for Rochdale with only seventeen players but still looking for another victory to try and hang on to their place, in this highly competitive, North One West League, for next season’s campaign.

The game got off to a fast and furious start on a beautifully prepared surface which was always going to be conducive to fast, open rugby and the spectators were not to be disappointed, they were in for a truly entertaining match.

The first twenty minutes was ‘nip and tuck’ with both sides throwing the ball around but the pivotal moment of the half was when Leigh lost Alex Middleton-Adams to the bin for a mysterious infringement close to the Leigh line.

Whilst Leigh were down to fourteen men, Rochdale were quick to capitalise and scored two, well worked, converted tries within five minutes to rack up a fourteen points to nil lead.

Leigh pulled back three penalties through the boot of Elliott Ryan before half time and Rochdale also added one to take the sides off at the break with the score Rochdale 17 Leigh 9.

Rochdale quickly extended their lead, on forty-six minutes, when they created an overlap to score an unconverted try, wide out on the Leigh left.

This seemed to be the trigger for Leigh to rebound and they soon reduced the Rochdale lead after fifty-five minutes when, after some really dominant work by the forwards, scrum half, David Wood, spotted a mismatch on the blind side to find Adam Dyson in space who stepped his way through for a well taken try, brilliantly converted by Elliott Ryan. Rochdale 22 Leigh 16.

Leigh’s resurgence continued and after them exerting further pressure in the Rochdale 22 metre area, Rob Drake threw one of his truly remarkable dummies to wrong foot the Dale defence and scorch over for an excellent try with Elliott Ryan stepping up to the mark again to add the conversion. Rochdale 22 Leigh 23.

Unfortunately for Leigh, Rochdale rallied again, within five minutes, to register a converted try, again down Leigh’s left flank, to extend their lead to six points.

The last fifteen minutes saw Leigh throw all that they had at Rochdale but credit to Rochdale, they repelled Leigh’s attacks and cleared their lines well and held on for a well deserved victory in the end.

Leigh at least came away with a losing bonus point for their efforts and every one of the Squad deserves a lot of praise for their unstinting efforts but special mention must go out to Dan Hunter, David Penn, Rob Drake and David Wood who all put their hands up in this very courageous fight back.

Leigh are at home to bottom of the Table, Widnes, on 2nd April and must be aiming to take five points from this game to keep them out of the relegation zone.