Rossendale 12 Firwood Waterloo 11
Understrength Rossendale needed a last minute try from Jordan Lord to overcome a resilient Waterloo side who belied their position in the National Three North relegation zone.
Although the visitors began the better it was the home side who took first points through a try from Steve Nutt coming into the line at pace from full back after Jamie Albinson had elected to take a quick tap penalty to take play within five metres of the Waterloo line, Nutt also adding the conversion.
As the visitors mounted some pressure two penalties either side of the interval from Liam Reeve brought the Merseysiders to within a point before they took the lead with five minutes remaining after Rossendale had failed to deal with a speculative kick through which allowed James O'Brien to win the race for the touch down.
By this time Rossendale who were suffering up front had brought on veteran Tim Fourie to steady the set piece. It was a ploy that worked, as from the restart the Rossendale pack drove up field from where Lord picked up to force his way over.
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