ROSSENDALE RUFC have continued to upset the odds and coach Tim Fourie is delighted.

The men from Marl Pits have defied the odds by not only remaining in National League Three North but mounting a serious challe-nge at the summit.

Despite having one of the smallest squads in the divi-sion and facilities not as good as their rivals, Dale are one of the form teams - defeat at Birkenhead last time out ended a run of six straight wins.

A push for promotion may not quite be in the cards but Dale will have a big say in who the movers and shakers are once play resumes.

“I suppose we have over-performed so far but we are delighted with the way things have gone in the first half of the season,” said player/coach Fourie who runs the side with fellow coach James Bramhall.

“We have had a lot of objects placed in front of us with a long injury list and of course, the weather.

“The break came at the wrong time because we were on a real role. When you are winning you just don’t want to stop because you want to keep that momentum going.

“It was no coincidence that we lost at Birkenhead because we could not get the boys together and it showed.”

Giant Tongan Paddy Pole currently leads the try scoring charts at Marl Pits and the second row is just one of a handful of players that Fourie believes have the potential to play at a higher level.

“If we can keep our squad together then we have the potential to play at a higher level,” said Fourie who used to play for Leeds Tykes and was player/coach at Sedgeley Park.

“Paddy has had a great first half to the season and has weighed in with his fair share of tries.

But he is one of many players who can play at the next level up.

“We only have a small squad and need to do work on our ground to moved up to the next level.

“A top six finish would be a good season for us this year but perhaps we can push on from their for the season’s ahead.”