Match Reports – 27th & 28th September 2025

ROSSENDALE 54 – SCUNTHORPE 29

Scunthorpe travelled to Marl Pits Rossendale for the first time. Rossendale being north of Manchester and are the other team who were promoted from level 5 last season.

The Greens again make changes to their side, with in the forwards, Jordan Beresford out ill, Marcus Payne & Tom Davies injured. Nick Syddall in and a welcome return for James Dyson. In the backs, Laurence Pearce back and Kier Gosling in on the wing with Josh Lugsden returning to fullback. Onto the bench come Jack Warr, Dan Longden and Rory Rendall-Tyrrell. In a lovely setting Rossendale kick off on a dry bright day with very little wind.

The Greens receive the ball but a knock on gave Rossendale the put in at the scrum. A pick up and drive forward from the scrum by Rossendale who play the ball through the backs and score a try. This was converted.

Rossendale 7 Scunthorpe 0. 2 min.

This seemed to wake the Greens up and they were soon back into the game, after turning over the ball and playing through the phases from side to side with the ball eventually finding Lewis Talbot on the left wing who goes over to score. Converted by Will Dark.

Rossendale 7 Scunthorpe 7. 6 min

From the kick off play continues back and forth until the ball finds itself into the Greens half, in an attempt to clear their lines, the Greens attempt to kick the ball out but the ball is charged down and picked up by Rossendale who score under the posts.

Rossendale 14 Scunthorpe 7. 14 min.

The Greens struggle to keep up with the Rossendale onslaught and despite defending in their own 22, Rossendale pick up the ball, with the Greens seemingly falling of tackles and score under the posts

Rossendale 21 Scunthorpe 7. 21 mins.

The Greens kick off and lose the ball bringing a scrum to Rossendale from which the Greens are penalised and Rossendale kick to the Scunthorpe 22. A knock on at the line out by Greens gives Rossendale a scrum, who again play through the forwards with good tight play and bring it out to the backs for them to score a try.

Rossendale 28 Scunthorpe 7. 26 mins.

From the kick off Rossendale knock the ball forward resulting in a scrum to the Greens. The Greens pick up and drive but then Rossendale penalised for coming in at the side. The Greens kick into the Rossendale half and win the line out play up the blindside and a strong run by James Dyson who then passes the ball off to the supporting Will Dark who scored the try but misses the conversion.

Rossendale 28 Scunthorpe 12. 31 mins.

Scunthorpe knock the ball on from the kickoff. The Rossendale scrum, again pick up and drive through, with the ball going through many pairs of hands culminating in a try by the Greens former player Matt Probert. Converted.

Rossendale 35 Scunthorpe 12. 37 minutes

From the restart the ball goes into touch for a Rossendale line out between their 10 metre line and 22. They again catch & drive before releasing the ball and run from a long way out to score once more. Conversion missed bringing the score at half time to Rossendale 40 Scunthorpe 12.

The half time team talk seemed to have perked the Greens up. The Greens set off at a rate of knots and with Rossendale caught offside, kick down field and from the line out, try their own catch & drive into the heart of the Rossendale defence. Rossendale are penalised once more this time for collapsing the maul. The Greens again win the line out go for a catch and drive but are held up. The Greens go again and win turn over ball, play across the backs eventually coming in with a try for Joey Mowbray.

Rossendale 40 Scunthorpe 19 46 mins.

The Greens now seemingly getting on top and the tide turns in the Greens favour. Rossendale now are at sixes and sevens with persistent offsides and after a team warning the referee loses patience and sends a Rossendale player to the bin. This again perks the Greens up and now driving at the heart of the Rossendale defence, Dan Longden on for his first taste of 1st team rugby picks up from a ruck 5 metres out and with a bullocking run shakes off Rossendale’s tacklers to score a try.

Rossendale 40 Scunthorpe 24. 60 mins.

Rossendale return to a full compliment but soon after receive another yellow card for persistent offences. The Greens now firmly in the driving seat. Win a line out only to be stopped illegally. The Greens from 5 metres out revert to a time tested Bridlington, this time with a variation seeing a try scored again by Joey Mowbray.

Rossendale 40 Scunthorpe 29. 67 mins.

Once more Rossendale return to full compliment and the Greens starting to run out of steam after a 30 mins of intense play. Rossendale score again with a break through and score a try under the posts.

Rossendale 47 Scunthorpe 29. 73 mins.

Play continued and well into time added on Rossendale score a try in the corner and with a tremendous conversion from the touchline see the final result.

Rossendale 54 Scunthorpe 29 FT.

Much promise of things to come but the Greens need to play like they did for the 1st 30 minutes in the 2nd half for a full 80. Worth a mention was Dan Longden in his first game at senior level. The Greens play Hull Ionians at Heslam next Saturday still looking for their first win of the season.

Coaches MoM – Kier Gosling.

Match Report written by Graham Migdalski

Photo Credit to Rossendale – Paul Kilshaw

Link to Rossendale’s Electronic Programme – Online programme for today’s home game against Scunthorpe

Link to Rossendale’s Match Report & More Photos – Match Report: Rossendale 54 – 29 Scunthorpe : 1st XV

Rossendale – Credit Paul Kilshaw (7)

Rossendale – Credit Paul Kilshaw (6)

Rossendale – Credit Paul Kilshaw (5)

Rossendale – Credit Paul Kilshaw (4)

Rossendale – Credit Paul Kilshaw (3)

Rossendale – Credit Paul Kilshaw (2)

Rossendale – Credit Paul Kilshaw (1)

2nd TEAM

HUDDERSFIELD 2NDS 43 – SCUNTHORPE 2ND’S 24

Scunthorpe Stags were keen to pick up a game in preparation of their visit to high scoring Syston the following week. So off they went to the beautiful setting of Lockwood Park where one might expect to see the Flying Scotsman glide across the viaduct or indeed have a visit from Nora Batty or Compo! Huddersfield came up trumps as they fielded a very strong team that included a few first team players.

It was the home side that set off like the aforementioned steam train when they scored a well taken try on two minutes. The green scrum was under pressure, the useful Huddersfield backs went wide and a missed tackle allowed them in. The conversion was missed, 5-0. After ten minutes another try came from a Huddersfield knock on, missed by the referee, 10-0. Scunthorpe rallied and began to put some phases together and their skilful handling asked questions of the home side defence. The good work paid off with a well taken try by Henry Dawson. Scunthorpe worked their way into the Huddersfield half. Possession went from left to right spreading the defence and Dawson jinked over and then converted his own try. 7-10. On the half hour Huddersfield scored again from a pick and go at the ruck, this time it was converted, 17-7. Five minutes later The Greens responded again. It came from a very well drilled pack who, marshalled by Matty Mason drove over from the lineout after a Huddersfield penalty infringement. Mason scored the try and was clearly looking to make amends after being dropped from the first team. Henry Dawson converted beautifully from the touchline and put the Stags back into contention at 14-17. However just before the break Huddersfield scored another converted try to take a lead of 24-14 into the second half.

Scunthorpe began the second half in great fashion with a well taken try from newcomer Charlie Aitkenhead who looked impressive on debut. It came from a Scunthorpe penalty which put pressure on the Huddersfield five metre line. The catch and drive ball went left, and right Scunthorpe kept possession eventually Aitkenhead used his strength to wriggle over. Dawson missed the extra two and Scunthorpe were still within a shout at 24-19. Unfortunately, the next three minutes sealed the victory for the West Yorkshire boys as poor tackling from the Greens allowed them to break out twice in succession to score two tries one of which was converted to lead 36-19. Fair play to Scunthorpe who did not cave in and on 55 minutes a second try for Scunthorpe came from another penalty and subsequent lineout. Matty Mason scored touch down to take to score to within 12 points. Huddersfield capped off a fine game with another try on the hour and were justified victors at 43-24. Although the points difference should not really have been as big due to a couple of lapses in concentration and crucial missed tackles. However, there was much to celebrate in this performance which gave them a good run out prior to the tough encounter away at Syston next week. There were some notable performances from young 19-year-old Ben Dealtry who came off the bench to put in a very useful performance at prop. Matty Mason was back to his rumbunctious best and the gritty debut from Charlie Aitkenhead was noteworthy.

The coaches will pick the best off this performance and use it to prepare for next week’s game away at Syston who have scored over 200 points in their first two games in the league.

Mom – Charlie Aitkenhead

Match Report & Photos from Steve Williams

Stags – 27Sep25 – Huddersfield (2)

Stags – 27Sep25 – Huddersfield (3)

Stags – 27Sep25 – Huddersfield (1)

Stags – 27Sep25 – Huddersfield (4)

Dev’s Team

SCUNTHORPE 45 – HULLENSIANS 22

Scunthorpe started in true Scunthorpe style looking slow and sluggish starting off allowing Hullensians to create attack after attack eventually giving Hullensians a penalty within kicking range giving an early 3 point advantage to the visitors. Scunthorpe then rallied with good phase play by the forwards creating space for the backs for Cam James to go over for the first Scunthorpe try, conversion successful.

This rallied Scunthorpe to put the pressure on through creative back running and powerful forward carries allowing Liam Barrett to dive over from 1meter out to give Scunthorpe a 14 – 10 lead.

Hullensians then fought back through some quick panelties to give them a 15-14 lead.

Scunthorpe got back together and through some strong carries in the forwards creating gap in the back field allowing for an expertly timed kick into the corner for Joe Marritt to run onto it to touch down over the try line giving Scunthorpe a 21- 15 lead into the half time.

The second half kicked off and Scunthorpe brought on some experience and power around the pack, good phase play and quick thinking to pick up from the base of the ruck sneaking though the defence Ricky Smart was able to give a quick offload to Neil Wainer who gave Scunthorpe a 28-10 lead.

Continuous dominance from the Scunthorpe pack allowed for Stuart moody to capitalise from winning a scrum against the head and going over for another scunthorpe 33-10.

Hullensians were not done and with multiple penalty assists brought the game to 33-15.

Scunthorpe continued to turn the screw and after some fantastic field position play and hard work from the forwards were awarded a penalty try 40-15.

Previous years semi finalists were not done and came back at Scunthorpe with the addition of multiple penalties brought the game back to 40-22.

Scunthorpe were not finished there, after good recycling from Scunthorpe it created a 60metre gap for Kian Ellor to show his running skills and power to run in a try from 50 meters giving Scunthorpe a 45-22 win against last years semi finalists.

MOM Kian Ellor

(Note some tries may be in wrong order but score correct)

Photo Credit – Stu Locking & Paul McDonald