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Stoke v Rossendale Match Report
RACHEL Bailey11 Sep 2024 - 15:36
With thanks to Mike Yorke for the Match report.
Stoke 31 Rossendale 62
Stoke faced impressive opponents, Rossendale, in their opening Regional 1 North West fixture.
The visitors made a blistering start to the match, scoring four tries in the first twelve minutes, giving them a 3-20 lead. Stoke were overwhelmed by the pace and power of their opponents who were well marshalled by ex- Scotland international Byron McGuigan. The onslaught was slowed with a first try for Stoke on twenty minutes. Jamie Loska found space on the outside shoulder of his opponent and found young Jack Gosling, making his league debut, he cut inside his opposite number to score under the posts, Ciaron Shone added the conversion to make the score 10-20. Although Stoke started to maintain a little bit more possession they still struggled to contain the fast, strong, Rossendale backs, scoring two more tries to make it 10-34 with five minutes to go before half time. In the closing minutes of the half Stoke managed to produce quicker ball and stretch their opponents to create a two v one, the final pass was knocked on by the defender which the referee deemed as intentional, the resulting yellow card reducing them to fourteen. With Stoke on the attack the Rossendale defence remained firm and the half came to an end with a Stoke knock on.
Stoke made a strong start to the second half. A penalty was kicked to the twenty two and from the line out the forwards drove their opponents backwards, the ball was fed left for Will Sant to enter the line from full back and score under the posts. Shone added the extras to make the score 17-34. Despite being more competitive Stoke were unable to make the most of the few openings created and the visitors were very clinical in finishing theirs, scoring four further tries to make the score 17-62, with just over five minutes to go. As always with this Stoke side, they keep going till the end. From a line out, which had operated effectively all afternoon, fifteen meters out, the ball was taken up the middle, James Salt making a strong carry forcing his way over the line to make the score 24-62. The prospect of a fourth try and a losing bonus point was now a possibility. In the final minute of the game Stoke had a line out on the Rossendale twenty two. The ball was fed to new signing, centre, Tom Scragg, he made an excellent carry and off loaded the ball to Jamie Loska who found a gap, brushed off a couple of defenders to score under the posts to secure the bonus point.
New head coach Jordan Grimshaw, was positive after the match, ‘From how the match started, to come away with a bonus point after scoring four tries, we are very pleased, we have some positives to work on for next week.
Next week we travel to Blackburn, as usual the players will appreciate any support.
Stoke faced impressive opponents, Rossendale, in their opening Regional 1 North West fixture.
The visitors made a blistering start to the match, scoring four tries in the first twelve minutes, giving them a 3-20 lead. Stoke were overwhelmed by the pace and power of their opponents who were well marshalled by ex- Scotland international Byron McGuigan. The onslaught was slowed with a first try for Stoke on twenty minutes. Jamie Loska found space on the outside shoulder of his opponent and found young Jack Gosling, making his league debut, he cut inside his opposite number to score under the posts, Ciaron Shone added the conversion to make the score 10-20. Although Stoke started to maintain a little bit more possession they still struggled to contain the fast, strong, Rossendale backs, scoring two more tries to make it 10-34 with five minutes to go before half time. In the closing minutes of the half Stoke managed to produce quicker ball and stretch their opponents to create a two v one, the final pass was knocked on by the defender which the referee deemed as intentional, the resulting yellow card reducing them to fourteen. With Stoke on the attack the Rossendale defence remained firm and the half came to an end with a Stoke knock on.
Stoke made a strong start to the second half. A penalty was kicked to the twenty two and from the line out the forwards drove their opponents backwards, the ball was fed left for Will Sant to enter the line from full back and score under the posts. Shone added the extras to make the score 17-34. Despite being more competitive Stoke were unable to make the most of the few openings created and the visitors were very clinical in finishing theirs, scoring four further tries to make the score 17-62, with just over five minutes to go. As always with this Stoke side, they keep going till the end. From a line out, which had operated effectively all afternoon, fifteen meters out, the ball was taken up the middle, James Salt making a strong carry forcing his way over the line to make the score 24-62. The prospect of a fourth try and a losing bonus point was now a possibility. In the final minute of the game Stoke had a line out on the Rossendale twenty two. The ball was fed to new signing, centre, Tom Scragg, he made an excellent carry and off loaded the ball to Jamie Loska who found a gap, brushed off a couple of defenders to score under the posts to secure the bonus point.
New head coach Jordan Grimshaw, was positive after the match, ‘From how the match started, to come away with a bonus point after scoring four tries, we are very pleased, we have some positives to work on for next week.
Next week we travel to Blackburn, as usual the players will appreciate any support.
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