Rossendale U16s 64 Cleckheaton 20 IDREES Nazir and Jacob Taylor each scored a hat-trick of tries as Rossendale U16s start the season with a bang.

Dale’s first try came after the pack won a scrum against the head on Cleckheaton’s five metre line, which Nazir picked up from the base and drove over to score, with extras added by Will Walmsley.

The next try came almost straight from the restart, as Dale fielded the kick and drove down the field, through five or six phases where the ball was recycled quickly, with Michael Brierley carrying the ball over to score, again converted by Will Walmsley.

Soon after, Taylor dashed the final few metres down the right wing to score his first try.

Cleckheaton managed to resist the next attack, as Hadley Newell crashed over the line, but was unable to get the ball down.

However, it was only a brief respite as Idrees Nazir picked up from the base of the resulting five metre scrum and blasted through to score again, with the reliable boot of Will Walmsley again adding the extras.

Taylor then flew down the line to score his second of the game. A neat kick through by Will Walmsley gave Callum Pelling his first try before Wayne Bannister ended the half with another try.

Cleakheaton got themselves on the scoreboard within the first few minutes of the half but Nasir completed his hat-trick after he was released by Ben Hurst.

The visitors hit back with three more tries of their own but Isaac Cornwall ened that run, bagging himself a try, again from a scrum against the head, as he sprinted 20m to score.

Dale’s final try was a real team effort, as a ruck near the left-hand touchline was recycled through three phases before being passed across the entire back line and allowing Jacob Taylor to sprint in to secure his hat-trick - with the ever reliable Walmsley adding the extras.