ANSELMIANS started well, and for periods of the game had Rochdale on the rack.
However, the home side defended smartly and made their fitness tell.
Anselmians had the early pressure but then lost a man after a deliberate knock-on.
It was then that Rochdale took the lead with the extra man overlap. They converted to give a score of 7-0. A penalty for Anselmians gave a half time score of 7-3.
The home XV got off to a great start two minutes into the second period when they breached the visitors’ defence to go up 14-3.
However Anselmians hit back with another penalty to give a score of 14-6.
Anselmians continued the pressure and eventually got the ball over the line via captain Paul Hellier. Simon Mason converted to make it 14-13.
However, in the last quarter a series of mistakes by the visitors let the home side back in with two further tries and a penalty. An added conversion gave a full time score of 29-13.
