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TYNEDALE RFC v ROSSENDALE RUFC
Saturday 4th October 2025 (KO 3pm)

WELCOME ROSSENDALE – ANOTHER DALE

The Battle of the Dales in our League usually involves Tynedale and Wharfedale from Yorkshire, but a new Dale has joined the fray this season as we welcome the Lancastrian club Rossendale as our visitors.
It is always good to meet new friends, so we hope the players, committee and supporters of Rossendale RUFC enjoy their day at Tynedale Park.

We also extend a very warm welcome to our old friends from Sunderland and Blyth who play our Raiders and Centurions.
We also, of course, extend a warm welcome to this week’s match officials for our 1stXV, Raiders and Centurions fixtures.

To EVERYBODY - Enjoy your day

ROSSENDALE RUFC
Rossendale RUFC is based in Rawtenstall, Rossendale, Lancashire.
Rossendale is a group of towns situated around 30 miles north of Manchester and around 30 miles south-east of Preston.

ROSSENDALE HISTORY
Founded in 1969, Rossendale Rugby Union Football Club in its early days played on farmland high above Rawtenstall where changing facilities were non-existent and training venues impossible to find.

Since then, things have changed. Affiliated to the Lancashire County and Rugby Football Unions, the club progressed through the divisions of the North West leagues to reach Regional 1 North West, and now Nat.2 (North) in the National Leagues.
The club fields three sides on a Saturday, each of which plays in a league or association fixture, and the club also has thriving Colts, and Juniors and Minis section on Sundays.

Rossendale RUFC won promotion from Regional 1 North West last season, scoring almost 1,000 points in the process, winning 18 of their 22 matches, finishing 6 points above runners-up Anselmians (from the Wirral) with third-placed Manchester a further point behind.

NEW PLAYERS AT ROSSENDALE THIS YEAR
Our visitors have made a number of changes in their squad this season, with the following players being signed recently:

Lucas Atherton - No.10/15. From Fylde.
Callum Hall - No.10. Sale Sharks Academy/ Rochdale RUFC.
Seb Pemberton - No.4. Chester.
Mac Duaibe - No.8. Camberley/Rockford Hundred/Tonbridge Juddians.
Blair Hastie - No 8/2. GHK Glasgow
Kieran Tyrer - No 15. From Rugby League.
Vinny Durcan - No.12/11.Kitrkham G.S. Sale Sharks Academy/Rochdale RUFC
George Atherton - No.13. Lymm RUFC

Also, a new forwards coach – James Flynn (prop) - Sale Sharks, Saracens, Jersey Reds and Ampthill.
And the club’s main coach (and player) is Johnny Leota the Samoan International who played for Sale Sharks, and latterly at Lymm.

Quite an array of talent to test Tyne.

THIS SEASON

Rossendale have had a mixed start to the season, starting with an impressive away victory at Hull which was followed by a high-scoring home defeat against high-flying Macclesfield. They then suffered defeat at promotion-favourites Sheffield but had a resounding home victory last week against fellow new-comers Scunthorpe.
A very tough encounter is expected.

ROSSENDALE LEAGUE RESULTS THIS SEASON
Hull 18 Rossendale 22
Rossendale 41 Macclesfield 53
Sheffield 45 Rossendale 10
Rossendale 54 Scunthorpe 29

ROSSENDALE WEBSITE
https://www.rossendalerufc.com/

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: David Charlton
AR1: Simon Williams
AR2: Dean Lythgoe
Referee Coach: John Heselwood

BALL BOYS/GIRLS
Tynedale Panthers

WEATHER FORECAST
Possible light rain showers, gusty westerly wind, 12 degrees

OTHER SENIOR FIXTURES THIS WEEKEND
SATURDAY 4TH OCTOBER
Tynedale Raiders v Sunderland Shipwrights (3pm) – CaNDY 1 League
Gateshead II v Tynedale Hadrians (3pm) – CanDY 2 North
Tynedale Centurions v Blyth Marauders (3pm) – CaNDY 3 North
SUNDAY 5TH OCTOBER
Carlisle Colts v Tynedale Colts WO – National U18 Cup - CANCELLED

SELECTED SQUADS