ROSSENDALE faltered at home against a committed Cockermouth side who came to get something from this game and thoroughly deserved to share the points.

The home side again started well, but failed to really dominate against a big pack who were willing to tackle at the fringes where their blind side wing forward excelled.

Good ball was developed from Clement in the line-out, driven on Andy John, but all too often Rossendale made good ground only to lose the crucial line-out near to the opponents try line. Injuries to second row Lee and back row Cunliffe were a major factor in open play as was a centre field desire to kick away good possession.

It was Cunliffe who supported a break to feed Lightfoot on the wing, who sprinted in for his fourth try in as many games, this gave the home side a five-point cushion. This lead was very short-lived and a string of penalties to the visitors, most of which were very correct decisions, although some members of the viewing gallery would probably argue, as they so vehemently did on the day, handed the opposition a nine point haul. Spencer at fly half replied with a penalty for the home side to make the half time score eight, nine in favour of Cockermouth.

Pressure was evenly shared in the second half until Howie at scrum half was unfortunate to have a kick charged down by his opposite number, who then had a clear run in to score an opportunist try which was unconverted. Spencer levelled the scores with two well-struck penalty attempts.

Dale looked the stronger side at the finish, but as in so many previous encounters between these two sides, their very similar pattern of play tends to cancel one another out, and make for very tight games.

The outside back division did not impress and some parts of Rossendale's line-out thinking was jaded.

Dale will be looking for impressive performances, and not looking to hand out Christmas presents when they travel to Sandbach then entertain Wallasey in league games before the year end.

This weekend sees a very tough away friendly fixture at Leigh where Dale may well use the freedom of a non-league game to try out some new options.

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