Preston Grasshoppers vs Rossendale – Kick Off 2:30pm
Preston Grasshoppers host local rivals from East Lancashire this Saturday when they meet Rossendale RUFC who will no doubt be fielding a number of familiar faces from their time playing in the west of the county.
The home side last week may say that Jordan’s trio of injury time tries last Saturday gave a flattering look to the scoreline but the victory will have done much to erase the memory of their previous visit to Raygarth and Hoppers will be looking to keep up the momentum and extend their unbeaten run against Rossendale.
In making his 1st XV debut for Hoppers last weekend, Oli Parkinson became the four hundred and fiftieth player to wear the shirt for Preston Grasshoppers in a League game. Other firsts in the game saw Jordan Dorrington’s late trio of tries added to the one scored in the opening half make him the first Hoppers player to score four tries in an away League game for the club together with Harry Holden’s effort his first for the club in just his second start.
Founded in Preston Grasshoppers Centenary season, our visitors have played in this division since promotion from North 2 West in 2009 via a play-off victory over Old Crossleyans. Their attempts to escape being thwarted by Sheffield and Dudley Kingswinford in play-off games at Marl Pits and Kingswinford back in 2017 & 2012 respectively.
Lightfoot Green will see the third meeting between Rossendale and Preston Grasshoppers senior sides, the second at this venue, with the Lancashire Cup semi-final tie in Fulwood back in May 1997 being the opener when the home side ran out comfortable winners to proceed to the Final, playing Orrell at The Woodlands.
Our visitors have had a mixed season to date, winning four, losing five and currently lie in tenth place.
As mentioned previously, the records show there have been just three meetings between the two clubs at 1st XV level, with Hoppers coming out winners on each occasion.
The next trip for the 1869 Club will take the band of supporters to Wirral were they will be either hoping that the home club have made some provision for cover since Hoppers last visit, or that the weather is somewhat kinder. There’s a poster on the noticeboard for the trip with the usual lunch stop en-route. As usual, everyone’s welcome with the fare £20 and accompanied juniors travelling for £5 each.
DIGGER
Team News
- Oga Mabaya
- Harry Holden
- Pete Altham
- Ally Murray
- Sam Gale
- Toby Harrison
- Ben Dorrington
- Matt Lamprey
- Jake Squirrell
- Tom Walker
- Tyler Spence
- Sam Stott ©
- Matt Crow
- Jordan Dorrington
- Jacob Browne
- Olli Trippier
- Christian Taylor
- Rob Meadows
