ROSSENDALE finally came out on top in a high-scoring try fest after beating Kendal in an entertaining game in the snow at Marl Pits.

It is the fourth time Dale have been involved in a fixture where the winning side had scored more than 40 points with the losers racking up at least 30.

But unlike the previous three occasions, Dale prevailed at last – although they had to survive a second half fight back from Kendal.

Dale can never be accused of not being involved in entertaining, high scoring affairs.

But after tasting defeat against Percy Park (41-39), Billingham (45-31) and Bradford and Bingley (41-30), Dale were at the right end of this 13-try thriller.

Dale dominanted the opening half and led 31-14 at the break.

But it needed a late Danny Harrison try – his second of the match – to halt a stunning comeback from Kendal who had run in three tries to get within a eight points.

Rossendale appeared to be on their way to a routine victory when, from a miss move following a scrum, Roger Dennison created the extra man to release Harrison who put Sam Lothian in for the opening try. Harrison scored the second from a cross kick from Steve Nutt before Kendal hit back with a converted try of their own. Leyton Taylor then crashed over for a third Dale try after good work from Danny Collins and Paddy Pole with Nutt adding the conversion.

Again Kendal replied with a second converted try but Dale secured the four-try bonus point when Tom Bedlow went over and Nutt added the extras.

Dennison then made it five, the winger popping up in the centre to score close in and when Nutt slotted over the conversion, Dale led 31-14 at the interval.

That lead was stretched to 22 points when Nutt scored Dale’s sixth try before Kendal mounted a comeback with three tries and a conversion.

Dale nerves were finally calmed when Harrison crossed for his second although Kendal did score a late converted try to earn a deserved losing bonus point.