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Saints travelled to Rochdale, the team with the best home record in the league, unbeaten the whole of last season and again unbeaten this season so far.
With conditions dry and reasonably bright, Saints kicked off against the only team to beat them in the league last season.
Within five minutes, Saints scored under the sticks with the forward pack gaining dominance, Dai Morley stepped through ta gap shrugging off a tackle to drive over, and converted by himself 0-7.
Rochdale have some pacy backs and they started to see some of the ball due to some wayward kicking from the Saints, creating an overlap and scoring near the corner which was converted 7-7.
Yet again, during a break by the Rochdale full-back, the ball was fed out to the wing where Rochdale powered over to score, not converted 12-7.
With half time looming, Saints started to play to their strengths, a perfect line out and a solid scrum moved them towards to try line.
Dai was tackled three metres out, but managed to pop the ball to Will Grabe who dived over unopposed to score – converted by Morley 12-14 HT.
The second half started like the first ended, with Saints using the wind this time to gain distance towards the line. Again faultless line out throwing from Dan Salisbury and work from the pack started to take its toll and Fred Clarke drove over from a maul to score Saints third – unfortunately missed conversion 12-19.
Within 10 minutes of the restart, Ewan Nolan found space and with a classy hand off, sprinted over for Saints fourth try and bonus point – converted by Morley 12-26.
Rochdale, however, threw everything at Saints now and a spilled pass was collected by the Rochdale winger who scored in the corner – unfortunately for them not converted17-26.
The last 10 minutes showed why Saints have the best defensive record in the league home and away as Rochdale failed time after time to break the line.
FINAL SCORE 17-26 .5 points to the Saints and MOM to Morley.
Image credit: Derek Salisbury Snr
Rochdale15 Joshua Schofield14 Name withheld13 Oliver Coldman12 Aidan Gleeson11 Patrick Gillan10 Matthew Johnston9 Daniel Joesbury1 Jonathan Bradley2 Kyle Parry3 Harry Hill4 Edward Shanks5 Christopher Hodgkinson6 Edward Bateman7 Ross Hartley8 Thomas HindleRochdale SubsS1 Andrew FosterS2 Harry HayesS3 Declan Connor
Anselmians15 Adam Bramhall14 Joel Ashton13 Ewan Nolan12 Ransford Otutaha11 Jack Gronow10 David Morley9 George Manger1 Robert O’Donnell2 Daniel Salisbury3 Derek Salisbury4 Niall Cavanagh5 Jack Richards6 Jack Sanders7 Samuel Gregory8 William GrabeAnselmians SubsS1 Fred ClarkS2 Kostja VezanovsS3 Jonathan Bonner
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