It has been an odd season for Rossendale. They sit in second place nine points clear of third place Hull, but thirteen behind Huddersfield. After getting a single point from their first two games, their only loss since in eighteen games was against the runaway leaders.

Apart from that loss, they only failed to pick a bonus point once in their next eleven games, but since then have only picked up one (a fortnight ago against strugglers Doncaster Phoenix), and have had four narrow wins, with the opposition managing to collect losing bonus points.

So another good performance, and who knows what might happen. There were chances in the home game, but Rossendale, then always looked as if there was more in the tank if they had needed it, once they got their bonus point.

TEAM : A few changes from the game last week

Dom Musetti, who went off last weekend, misses his first game of the season, so the “young and inexperienced” Richard Harryman comes in for his 452 appearance for the club, although it is his start of the season, and only the second start in two seasons.

Another player returning to a position he has not been in seen in recently is Matty Houghton, making only his fourth appearance as hooker in the last four years, with Garry Holmes making a welcome return on the bench.

Behind the pack James Gough returns after business commitments last weekend (did he get that contract in China that Wayne Rooney turned down ?), so Dini Noyo returns to the right wing and Mark Carruthers to the bench. Zane Butler returns in the centre in place of Damian Armstrong. Blake Robinson keeps the other seat in the bench.

WEATHER : Wet

N.B. It is now Spring so it is a 3.00pm (I had forgotten until I saw the team sheet)