Feisty Blues Topple Table Toppers
New Brighton 32 – 22 Rochdale
By Colin Bentley
New Brighton entertained top of the table Rochdale at Hartsfield on Saturday. In near perfect conditions the Blues kicked off to the seaside end and immediately applied pressure to the visitors’ defense. Playing with enthusiasm and purpose New Brighton’s big men forced Rochdale onto the back foot with their power game.
Returning to the side at scrum half Alan Hesketh fizzed and buzzed for the Blues control the game skill confidence well supported by the classy Stephen Dean at 10 and vastly experienced Marcus Coast inside centre.
New Brighton could do no wrong in the early exchanges, When Hesketh called the wide play Rochdale had no answer, Dean fed Coast who threw and outrageous miss pass to find Greg Hughes wide in the wing. Blues pace man was off at a gallop to open the scoring with a try out wide. Dean added the extras as the Blues eased into an early 7-0 lead after just 4 minutes
Even before Rochdale could catch their breath New Brighton were back at them with a purpose. Big men Dorrington, Lewis and McKibbin pounded away at the defense building a position wide on the left. Towering Lock Ryan Stead made a strong run before slipping a deft pass to Kati Tuipoluto who added the captain’s pace to breach the defensive wall. Providing the support was the mighty John Brotherton who finished a spending forward move with the Blues second try. Dean added an impressive conversion from a wide position giving New Brighton a 14-0 lead after 11 minutes.
Spurred in the action by the Blues early scores Rochdale fired up to show the form that put them on top of the league. New Brighton’s defense held firm but with Rochdale enjoying their best spell of the game the alarm bells were sounding for the Blues. The impressive Stephen Collins came close with a monstrous penalty effort from just inside the Blues half. Collins kick flew high, straight and long but to the relief of the home fans fell just inches short of the mark
With battle now fully engaged both teams gave their all in a wonderfully even competition that produced highly entertaining rugby for the crowd. Dean extended the Blues lead with a penalty on 38 minutes and Rochdale deservedly earned reward for their efforts when full back Bob Blackburn cut a brilliant angle to set up a scoring position. Running across field to scythe through New Brighton’s defense, Blackburn fed Collins who straightened his run to cross the halfway line. With their defense fully stretched New Brighton scrambled to rescue the position, but had no answers when Jonny Mair hit the attack at full tilt to power over for the try. Collins added the conversion 17-7 on 38 minutes.
There were no further scores in the first half. Play was lively from both teams following the resumption. New Brighton tightened their grip on the game when Dean hit an early penalty to open a 20-7 Blues lead. Sensing that they might just be able to topple the league leaders New Brighton piled on the pressure in an uncompromising series of unfussy forward power plays. From a good position close to the visitors line; Hesketh produced a moments brilliance first showing the dummy before stepping left, then right to launch a sniping run burst the defense before passing to the ever present Kati Tuipoluto who drove home for the score. Dean added the conversion as the Blues stretched to a 27-7 lead on 50 minutes.
When it looked like a really ‘Good Day at the Office’ for New Brighton the encounter took a fascinating twist when first Hesketh and then Coast picked up Yellow Cards dispatching them to the Sin Bin on 58 & 64 minutes respectively. From having no answer to New Brighton’s all round game Rochdale found a new lease of life when faced with a blues defense reduced to just 13.
New Brighton defiantly defied the odds scrambling and battling manfully to hold their defensive line. Sensing their moment Rochdale found another gear and launched attack after attack sapping the Blues reserves..
Somehow New Brighton kept the visitors out but conceded a penalty wide on the left. The quick thinking Collins launched a high kick across to the other side of the field. The ball hung in the air crossing the New Brighton try line, players turned, scrambled and sprinted to win the race for the ball rolling gently in the in goal area. Agonizingly the Blues could not get a man to the ball before substitute Callum Mulkeen stumbled over to make contact and score the try. It was a fortunate for him, unlucky for New Brighton but a moment of brilliance from Collins whose quick thinking and deftly executed cross kick fully deserved the reward. Collins added the conversion as Rochdale closed to 27-14.
The Blues lead was clawed back still further moments later when Collins landed a huge penalty effort closing the scores to 27-17.
New Brighton were now under the cosh as Rochdale strained every sinew to get back into the contest. With the visitors in full cry New Brighton won a possession deep in their own half, confident running and swift hands launched an improbable attack from their own 10-yard line. The stand was brought to its feet when a sprinting Gareth Simpson took a pass at full tilt just over the halfway line. Pinning his ears back Simpson raced for the line brushing off tackles on the way. It was a full 45 yard dash ending in the corner for a spectacular try. Dean failed with the conversion but the Blues had extended the lead to 32-17 with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Refusing to give in Rochdale threw everything they had at a tiring New Brighton. Several times they came close and possibly should have scored when Jonny Mair ran clear only to be bundled into touch by a despairing defense.
Sean Ellis was impressive for the blues as was open side flanker Ryan McKibbin. The number 7 produced a brilliant run after grabbing the ball deep in his own half racing 30 yards to the Rochdale 10 yard line. Unfortunately the run was so incisive that it left the support well behind, Rochdale won the turnover and threw everything at the Blues. Pounding the right side of the field the visitors stretched the defense to the limit. When they switched their attack across the field in a sweeping move wide out to the left New Brighton simply ran out of defenders. Winger Philip Cowburn raced over to complete the scoring at 32-22.
Clearly flagging from their huge defensive effort when reduced to 13 men New Brighton was forced to hang on. Rochdale twice came close to scoring none more so than when a desparate clearance kick fell directly into the waiting arms of a sprinting Cowburn. The winger was away again and looked to be scoring in the corner when a flying tackle from Hesketh forced Cowburn into touch in goal before he could ground the ball. It was close, very close but Hesketh had done enough to save the try and possibly the game. Rochdale never gave in and took their fight to the final whistle. It was a good game, a close contest and great entertainment for the crowd.
Final New Brighton 32 – 22 Rochdale