Dale's Stock rises sky high - Rossendale 25 Stockport 22 (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Dale's Stock rises sky high - Rossendale 25 Stockport 22

10:26am Tuesday 25th November 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

ROSSENDALE picked up the prized scalp of North Lancs One opponents after beat-ing Stockport in the second round of the EDF Intermediate Cup.

And they had to do it the hard way by surrendering home advantage after their Marl Pits pitch was deemed unplayable.

Dale, who have risen to second place in North Lancs Two since gaining promotion, trailed 12-8 at the break and then 22-13.

But they showed tremendous spirit to overcome their ‘hosts’.

Stockport opened the scoring with a breakaway try before Dale drew level when player/coach Danny Collins battered his way over.

But a converted Stockport try and a Shaun Stirrup penalty in reply saw Dale trail at the break.

Stockport tried to kill off the game soon after the restart but solid defending by Appleton, Harper, debutant Settle and Wood slowed their forward momentum.

And it was Dale who crossed the line next with Collins finding himself on the wing and barging his way over. But Stockport appeared to get the upperhand and 10 unanswered points – a penalty and converted try – appeared to put them on the road to victory.

But a piece of wonderful defence by James Squires, when he cleared his lines against the odds, inspired Dale who mounted a late fight-back.

And it was another piece of Squires magic, this time on the offence, when he joined the Dale line at pace and burst through the Stockport defence to score.

Stirrup’s conversion put Dale withwithin two points of Stockport and it was Patrick Pole who sealed victory with a fine try from open play.