ROSSENDALE warmed up for their National Cup trip to Billingham with a six-try romp against De La Salle.

Dale got off to the perfect start when they capitalised on a De La Salle error and from the ensuing ruck, player/coach Danny Collins ran in unopposed from 30 metres out.

Shuan Stirrup added the extras and Dale were in complete control.

The lead was extended through two rehearsed moves when first captain Andrew John touched down before good work by Roger Dennison gave Alistair Harper a simple touch-down. Stirrup added the extras to put Rossendale 21-0 ahead. A further opportunist score by Harper and a penalty from Stirrup just before the break gave Dale a 29 point lead.

After the break, De La Salle seemed to forget that the afternoon was for a rugby match. Three non-rugby indiscretions reduced them to fourteen men on three separate occasions. All this served to achieve was concede a further 15 points.

Johan Goosen pounced on a wayward lineout throw while Craig Diggle scored after superb controlled rugby from Dale's forwards. Mark Ellinor, Duncan Horrocks, Andrew John, and Simon Entwistle were all involved before Danny Collins, Joel McKenty, Richard Horrocks and Goosen laid on fast ball for the backs to round off a team score. Stirrup added a further conversion and a late penalty to take Dale out to 44 points.

De La Salle managed a consolation score following a series of out of character errors from Dale.

The De La Salle scrum half scored and converted his own effort for their only points of the day.

Dale, currently in second place in North Lancs/Cumbria and four points behind local rivals Blackburn, are now in confident mood for their trip to Billingham where they know victory will move them one stepper closer to Twickenham. But it will be a tough test as the Middlesbrough club have lost just once all season.

Coach David Wood said: "We played well today in a scruffy game. Six more tries and another 14 points for Shaun Stirrup, this was good preparation for next week's cup match."

Team: Dennison, Kolinisau, Wood (Walmsley 50 mins), Diggle, Harper, Hilliard, Stirrup, Goosen, McKenty, Collins (Woodward 60 mins), R Horrocks, Ellinor, John, Entwistle (Mitchell 65 mins), D Horrocks.