Rossendale geared up for their all important play-off final this weekend with a victory on the road in Cumbria.

The 36-13 winning margin may have relegated the opposition but the performance was still short of what will be needed to beat Burnage RFC on Saturday.

St. Benedict's took an early lead after the home sides fly-half slotted a penalty from close range.

Rossendale's repost was swift and well executed.

A fine individual run and touch-down by centre Alisdair Harper put Dale in front. Scrum-half James Hilliard added the extras.

A second try quickly followed after more flowing rugby from Dale allowing Mark Walmsley to dive in the corner.

And inside centre Craig Diggle scored a third try as the half ended 19-3.

St. Benedict's hit back with a score of their own after the re-start but Dale stepped up their intensity once more to blow St. Benedict's away.

Man-of-the-match Johan Goosen did the hard work to give Hilliard the simple task of touching down.

Despite a dubious second try from St. Benedict's the result was never in doubt.

An outrageous cross-field kick from Appleton bounced into the grateful arms of Walmsley who sprinted 15 yards into the corner for his second try.

Dale's sixth score came in the last play of the game when replacement wing Seta Kolinisau raced home from 40 metres out, touching down under the posts.