Ruskin Park showed great determination to run Rochdale RUFC within 11 points in this first round Lancashire Trophy match. An early injury to new signing Darren Wilson allowed Rochdale to turn pressure into points and was able to lead the first half by 12 points to 0.

Shortly after half time Rochdale scored another try and were awarded a penalty which they duly converted. Although Rochdale were increasing their score line, typical Ruskin showed more invention in in attack with a strike move allowing new captain Sam Hughes to break through and off load to Chris Birch to score a well-executed try. Rochdale responded again by converting a penalty to make the score line 23 – 5.
Ruskin, hungry for more points soon scored again when Chris Lyon broke from a strong platform set up from the tireless work of the forwards. There were lots of positives to take from this game, such as the aggressive defence of Richard Hall and Adam Leadbetter, giving Fletcher and Bailey some difficult selection decisions for their first league game next week at home against newly promoted Bowden.

It was inspiring to see new debutant brothers Alex and Ashley Stewart both adopting the style Ruskin like to play.

Final score Ruskin 12, Rochdale 23.