Rochdale Hornets 26 - 26 Oldham Roughyeds

Date published: 12 March 2017

Rochdale Hornets and Oldham Roughyeds shared the spoils in a pulsating derby at the Crown Oil Arena.

Hornets had the better of the first half but Oldham hit back in the second and led by 12 poiints with just ten minutes to play. Hornets showed true grit and determination to score two tries and goals in the closing minutes to end the game level.

Kick off was delayed due to an incident on the M62 holding up some of the players and officials.

When the game did kick off, Hornets were quick out of the blocks and opened the scoring after just five minutes. Lewis Palfrey opted to run on the last play and he found Jack Holmes who cut through the Oldham defence and fed Ben Moores. Moores had an easy stroll over the line. Palfrey with the conversion.

Oldham responded almost immediately; having opted to run from a penalty right in front of Hornets' posts, Jordan Walne found a way through the Hornets defence. Leatherbarrow with the conversion.

Oldham came close to taking the lead but were held up over the line.

A string of penalties followed before Hornets took the lead when Josh Crowley crashed over. Palfrey's conversion attempt missed.

With the half time hooter about to sound, Crowley ran serious yards before feeding Holmes for another Hornets try. Palfrey missed the conversion.

Half time: Rochdale Hornets 14 - 6 Oldham Roughyeds

Oldham came out fighting early in the second half and quickly pulled a score back. Smart rugby from Oldham as George Tyson drew the full back and put Adam Clay in at the corner. Leatherbarrow's kick was good.

Hornets gave away a couple of careless penalties giving ground to Oldham who took full advantage to take the lead for the first time - Tyoyo Egodo pouncing on a grubber. Leatherbarrow with the conversion.

The game was swinging from end-to-end, both sides giving it their all, and both making mistakes, but it was Oldham who made it count through a Michael Ward try. Leatherbarrow extended the Oldham lead with another successful kick.

Oldham took a 12 point lead when Leatherbarrow kicked a penalty from midfield.

With under ten minutes left on the clock, Hornets were staring a damaging defeat in the face. However, as the cliche goes, 'when the going gets tough, the tough get going', and Hornets dug deep and pulled off a terrific draw with two tries and goals in the closing minutes to take a share of the points.

Gavin Benion crossed for the first of the two tries needed, and Palfrey added the extras.

With two minutes left to play, Oldham knocked on and Hornets had a scrum ten metres out. From the scrum Ryan Maneely went in right under the Oldham posts. Palfrey with an easy kick to draw Hornets level.

Rochdale Hornets: Miles Greenwood, Chris Riley, Jack Holmes, Lewis Galbraith, Rob Massam, Lewis Palfrey, Danny Yates, Jovili Taira, Ben Moores, Gavin Bennion, Danny Bridge, Josh Crowley, Gary Middlehurst.
Replacements: Ryan Maneely, Samir Tahraoui, Matty Hadden, Jordan Case.
Tries: Ben Moores, Gavin Bennion, Josh Crowley, Jack Holmes, Ryan Maneely
Goals: Lewis Palfrey (3)

Oldham Roughyeds: Scott Turner, Adam Clay, George Tyson, Tuoyo Egodo, Richard Lepori, Scott Leatherbarrow, Dave Hewitt, Adam Neal, Gareth Owen, Jordan Walne, Liam Thompson, Danny Langtree, Ben Davies.
Replacements: Joe Burke, Michael Ward, Kenny Hughes, Sam Gee.
Tries: Jordan Walne, Tuoyo Egodo, Adam Clay, Michael Ward.
Goals: Scott Leatherbarrow (5)

Referee: Chris Kendall

Photos: Jackie Meredith
Video: Rochdale13

Alan Kilshaw reflects on Hornets performance in a dramatic 26-26 draw with rivals Oldham at the Crown Oil Arena