Dale sitting pretty after ugly win

7:06pm Thursday 29th November 2007

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ROSSENDALE continued their impressive form after picking up two more points on their travels to Cumbria.

And the Marl Pits side showed they know how to win ugly as the rain and wind made sure if was a scrappy affair.

Once again, it was Dale's forwards that laid the foundation for another solid win.

Scrum half Shaun Stirrup opened the scoring with a straight forward penalty in front of the sticks after 10 minutes before a slick move involving Andrew John and Roger Dennison led to Dale's first try of the afternoon.

And shortly before the break, Dale snatched a second try as Stirrup fed the ball to fly half James Hilliard who darted through the defence before wriggling over the try line underneath the crossbar. Stirrup converted and Dale led 15-0 at the break.

The second half was a more even contest and within 15 minutes, a youthful Kirkby side closed the gap to 15-6 thanks to two wind assisted penalties.

But Dale continued to have the edge up front and it wasn't long before the result was assured.

From turnover ball, Hilliard made a break through midfield, slipped a pass inside to centre Craig Diggle and Johan Goosen was on hand to accept the scoring pass and touch down for a 20-6 lead.

Dale's defence, led superbly by back row Joel McKenty, kept Kirkby at bay before the evergreen Duncan Horrocks added a third try late on.

On Saturday, Rossendale return to Marl Pits to face St. Benedict's from Whitehaven. Kick off is 2.15pm. All support welcome.

ROSSENDALE: Dennison, Fenn, Harper, Diggle, Walmsley, Hilliard, Stirrup (Browning 75 mins), Goosen, McKenty, Collins, R. Horrocks, Ellinor (Woodward 70 mins), Elmer (Entwistle 70 mins), John, D. Horrocks.