Rugby League: Rochdale Hornets 24 - 12 Barrow Raiders

Date published: 11 March 2018

Rochdale Hornets put in a scintillating second half performance against Barrow Raiders to record their first win of the season.

Hornets were very poor in a first half littered with slack defence and ill-discipline, and could count themselves fortunate to go in only 0-12 down at half time.

Whatever Hornets coach Alan Kilshaw said in his half time team talk needs bottling because Hornets were a completely different team in the second half running in five excellent tries to take the points.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barrow came into the game off the back of a defeat and a postponement, although prior to that they had picked up a shock victory over Leigh Centurions and held Toronto Wolfpack to a draw.

The newly promoted side were no mugs, but were without influential halfback Jamie Dallimore due to a four-match suspension for dangerous contact.

Hornets made four changes to the side which travelled to France, as Harvey Livett and Jack Johnson returned to Warrington Wolves – the latter suffering a season ending leg break during training in the week. Blake Turner and Ryan Maneely were also left out, as Joe Taira and Dec Kay returned to the fold, with Gary Middlehurst and Lewis Palfrey back from injury.

The afternoon marked 250 career appearances for Dave Allen, while Lee Mitchell also notched up his 150^th appearance in the professional game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It started badly for Hornets, as they knocked on a short kick-off and gave the Raiders an opportunity to attack, however it took 15 minutes for the first score.

It went the way of the Barrow when Luke Cresswell muscled past a number of defenders to touch down out wide – much to the delight of team mate Dallimore who was on commentary duties in the press box.

Straight from the kick-off Hornets gave away a penalty, marching Barrow up-field where they picked up their second  try of the afternoon. Thomas Walker’s offload sent Declan Hulme through a gap in the defence to make it 10-0 to the visitors.

A stunned Hornets wondered where it had all go wrong, before Bradley Marwood added a penalty goal to give Barrow a twelve point lead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the half hour mark Barrow were reduced to 12-men when the referee sin-binned Brad Crellin for a dangerous lifting tackle which left Middlehurst needing treatment. However, Hornets also lost a man as Richard Lepori was yellow-carded for taking matters into his own hands.

That was the last act of any significance in the first half, as Hornets went into the break trailing 12-0.

A different side emerged from the dressing rooms, and a second-half onslaught saw them over-turn the deficit in the space of seven minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first of the comeback tries fell to Palfrey who danced in from dummy half just five minutes into the second half.

He was soon followed over by Pat Moran, who barged through an attempted tackle and carried the fullback over the line with him, putting Hornets within two points.

Hornets hit the front when Rob Massam collected Danny Yates’ cross-field kick, before offloading to Deon Cross who raced in for his first try for the club.

On the hour mark Lee Mitchell benefitted from Joe Taira’s deft pass at the line to race in for a try on his landmark appearance.

The try of the game came when Danny Yates again found Rob Massam with a pinpoint kick, and the winger timed his run and jump to perfection to round off the victory in emphatic style.

The remainder of the game saw the Raiders throw all they had Hornets, but they stood up to the task and repelled wave after wave of attack to keep their line intact.

Hornets halted one last Barrow effort after the hooter had sounded to get off the mark for 2018.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rochdale Hornets: Richard Lepori, Declan Kay, Earl Hurst, Deon Lewis Cross, Rob Massam, Lewis Palfrey, Danny Yates, Jovili Taira, Ben Moores, Lee Mitchell, Gary Middlehurst, Dave Allen, Luke Adamson
Interchanges: Declan Gregory, Toby Adamson, Patrick Moran, Billy Brickhill

Barrow Raiders: Ryan Fieldhouse, Shane Toal, Declan Hulme, Thomas Loxam, Luke Cresswell, Brad Marwood, Karl Ashall, Ryan Duffy, Dean Parata, Joe Bullock, Brad Crellin, Jarrad Stack, Martin Aspinwall
Interchanges: Nathan Mossop, Thomas Walker, Alec Susino, Dan Toal

Referee: Mr M Rossleigh

 

Video

Rochdale Hornets 24 - 12 Barrow Raiders
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