The Bees can have no complaints as they were soundly beaten by a better side on the day.

The hosts did not play as they can and were guilty of making a string of basic errors. Defeat probably means thoughts of promotion can now be saved for next season.

Playing up the slope and into a vigourous wind, the Bees were behind after three minutes when Rossendale shipped the ball from right to left, allowing winger Dan Harrison the simplest of run-ins.

Steve Nutt failed with the conversion but added the extras ten minutes later after his half-back partner Jamie Albinson had dotted down.

Nutt and Albinson hardly put a foot wrong all afternoon and mixed up the play superbly for the visitors.

Nutt tacked on a penalty as the referee adjudged the hosts to have kicked off from in front of the halfway line.

The Wagon Laners finally showed their attacking side when Richard Scull made a fine break, arcing up the right-hand side to feed Gavin Stead, who powered over.

At 15-5, the Bees were in contention but, for the ninth time this season, they gifted the opposition a try through an interception as Harrison scampered up the touchline.

Another Nutt penalty meant it was 23-5 as the sides turned round.

The Bees opened the half camped in opposition territory but, with their first meaningful venture up field, Rossendale went further ahead.

Nutt kicked over the Bees defensive line and a sideways bounce took the ball straight into his arms for him to gallop over.

Stewart Brewer drove over for the hosts but the 18-point gap always looked too big and it was perhaps fitting that Albinson capped a fine performance with a score with three minutes left on the clock.

By

Nick Patterson