Rossendale 19, Preston Grasshoppers 25: Hoppers bounce back to win Lancashire derby
Preston Grasshoppers bounced back from a disappointing defeat last time out to beat Rossendale 25-19 in an all-Lancashire affair.
Hoppers head coach Dan Orwin said his players had to make sure the performance last time out against Scunthorpe was just a blip in a run of good form.
It certainly looked the case when the game got underway, the visitors out the gates with heavy pressure and they opened the scoring within the first 10 minutes.
Tom Ailes handed off to Sam Freeman following a scrum before he found winger Jacob Browne to go over in the corner. Freeman just missed a tough conversion with the lead staying at five.
Hoppers continued to put the pressure on the hosts, who were reduced to 14 when Kieran Tyrer was shown a yellow card for a high tackle.
Sam Kyle-Clay doubled Hoppers total completing a nicely worked line-out try , Freeman converting this time round to give the visitors a 12-point advantage.
The momentum of the 1st half completely swung afterwards however, Sam Bedlow and George Stephens both going over for Rossendale with Krisnan Uni converting one of the two tries to send the sides into the break level.
Hoppers would've been disappointed to go into the half tied up but replied early in the second half to restore their lead, Sam Kyle-Clay breaking through following a line-out to score his second of the game. Freeman converted and reinstated the seven-point lead.
Struggling Rossendale weren't going to do down without a fight, Matt Probert answering back with a try for Uni to converts once again levelling the game with 20 minutes left to play.
Sam Freeman kept the scoreboard ticking over for Orwin's side, his two penalties in the 70th and 75th minute giving his side a six-point lead heading into the final minutes.
The hosts were going to do everything in their power to burst the Hoppers bubble however finding themselves parked in the Hoppers 22 applying serious pressure.
The visitors would not budge however, a heroic defensive stand that went deep into additional time ensured Hoppers would be heading back to Preston with the win.
Head coach Dan Orwin couldn't understate how proud he was of his sides defensive effort to see the game out.
Both sides have two remaining games in the National League Two North season with Rossendale 3 points in the automatic relegation places.