Senior Academy 50 Rossendale Colts 5

The remains of Storm Eunice and the beginnings of Storm Franklin meaning that not even Slugger and the ground staff troops could get a pitch ready for Crewe & Nantwich Senior Academy Colts to take on Rossendale on Sunday.

With the game transferred to the Reaseheath College 4g pitch, Rossendale battled through the weather to put out a strong team on a wet and windy afternoon.

From the kick off, Rossendale made a strong start playing into gale forces winds, however it was C&N who took control and territory, with the first points coming after a few minutes as Josh Sourbutts took a sweet inside line to drive over for the try that Logan Lynch converted.

Playing with the wind advantage, it was vital C&N put points on the board in the first half. Keeping Rossendale in their own territory, the next try came for C&N from a well worked lineout steal that delivered the ball to the backs who passed wide to set Jacob up for the score.

Strong work by the forwards in the scrum kept the pressure on for C&N, they then forced a penalty at the breakdown which saw C&N with a lineout 10m out. From a well setup maul, Ollie Griffiths pinned back his ears to break free and get over the line, with Logan taking the extras.

Keeping Rossendale pinned in their own half, C&N then took a lineout steal that quickly went through the hands to see Jacob send a great miss pass to release a charging Ollie H, who was not going to be stopped.

The day was not getting any easier for Rossendale, from the kick off C&N returned the ball hard sending Adam Deegan up the middle on a dashing run, from the resulting quick ruck, the ball went through the hands to see Ben supply a wonderful tip on that Toby Evans ran over, with Tom Ryle kicking the extras.

The continuing pressure in conjunction with the awful weather meant Rossendale were now struggling to contain C&N, who were enjoying the fast surface. Rossendale kept fighting though and pushed into C&N territory to set up some an attacking base. However, their kick through was knocked back over their heads and in the resulting scramble Adam Deegan manged to kick the ball through for Max Postlethwaite to ground.

Rossendale must have been looking forward to half time and having a go with the wind at their backs, but C&N wanted one more score. Once again the C&N line out worked flawlessly to secure the ball, letting the backs set off again, with the Rossendale player scrambling in defense and infringing, from the quick tap penalty, Josh ran through four defenders before dotting down under the posts, with Logan again taking the extras.

Half time came with C&N taking a well earned 43 – 0 lead, and given the weather a very nervy one.

The second half saw the weather get worse and Rossendale working hard to keep territory and find a way into the game. They put pressure on C&N, but it was not proving to be their day.

After an exchange of hard fought lineouts and scrums, Bob Clews picked the ball up in under his own posts and ran back hard to the 22m, where his teammates secured the ball. A miss pass to Ben set him off to gain more metres and put C&N in Rossendale’s half. From there, Logan spotted a gap, slipped two tackles and went down the pitch to score, adding the extras as well.

Rossendale never gave up though and a well-deserved try finally came their way from a lineout deep in their own half and fine run down the pitch.

With the rain coming in sideways and the gale getting stronger, the whistle finally went seeing C&N take a 50 – 5 win and keep their title hopes alive.

Many thanks to Rossendale for travelling in fairly poor conditions, we wish you all the best for the rest of the season. especially next weekend!!

Try Scorers - Josh x 2, Max x 1, Jacob x 1, Logan x 1, Olly G x 1, Toby x 1, Hollins x 1
Conversions - Logan x 4, Tom x 1