Challenge Cup: Mayfield 14 - 40 Rochdale Hornets

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Challenge Cup: Mayfield v Rochdale Hornets

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Rochdale Hornets saw off a spirited second half comeback to defeat local amateur side Rochdale Mayfield and progress to the fourth round of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup.

Hornets, who rested three time Challenge Cup winner Chris Riley, also decided not to risk the comeback of Mike Ratu and were without James Dandy (rested), last year's top try scorer Dale Bloomfield and new signing Lewis Galbraith.

Former League One player of the year Jono Smith and former NCL Player of the year Jo Tairia were also unavailable through suspension.

Mayfield were without the suspended Seta Tala and also handed Challenge Cup debuts to a number of overseas recruits.

Hornets lost January player of the month Dave Cookson to a suspected broken collarbone, as well as John Cookson with a back strain and Jordan Case required stitches after being hit with an elbow.

Stuart Biscomb made his Hornets debut in the second row, before later moving to centre in an impressive 80 minute display, and he went close when he was held up over the line.

It was a stop-start affair which was scoreless for the first quarter of an hour, as both sides battled for an upper hand in the forwards.

From the opening set Hornets forced a goal-line drop-out, but ultimately they couldn't capitalise on the good early field position.

The first points of the contest went to Mayfield as Corey Lee chased down Lewis Sheridan, who was put into clear field by centre Calland before being caught by Lee, who was then sin-binned for a professional foul, with Mayfield opting to go for goal. Sam Butterworth converted the kick.

The first try of the game was scored as Danny Yates' flat ball sent James Tilley over for the opener.

With 13 men now on the field, Hornets started to turn the screw with three tries in four minutes.

The first was scored by Kieran Walpole, as Alex McClurg jumped blind and found the debuting winger who dived over in the corner.

Then a brilliant set move saw Alex Trumper charge back inside with a great angled run, before he found Wayne English in support, and the fullback stepped past three defenders to reach out and score under the posts.

Crook found Tilley with a flat pass at the line to send the loose forward through a hole in the defence, and he came up with a great offload to English who finished off the move.

Crook goaled all three to send his side into the break with a 22-2 lead.

Mayfield finally found their way over 14 minutes into the second half, as Paul Brearley's pass sent Sean Watkins over. Butterworth converted.

A minute later they were in again, as Liam Whalley broke down the left side before returning the ball inside to Declan Sheridan, who raced away to score. Butterworth added the extras.

With just eight points in it, a kick straight from a scum for Mayfield winger Jack Sampson almost paid off, although in his attempt to ground the ball he illegally pushed the covering English.

On the hour mark Hornets went up the other end of the field to stop the Mayfield momentum and regain their grip on the tie. Jordan Case did well to offload under pressure before Tilley came up with an impressive offload of his own to Ben Moores, and sent Matty Hadden over in acres of space.

Crook added another conversion to open up a 14 point cushion.

Crook then kicked a 40/20 straight from a scrum, and from the resulting set another great set move looked to have sent Walpole over for his second, only for a forward pass to be called by the referee.

Eleven minutes from time the game was put to bed as Warren Thompson showed great strength to barge his way over for a converted try from close range.

The scoring was completed by Yates two minutes from time, as Crook broke the line and found his halfback partner in support.

Crook's conversion sealed a 40-14 victory and confirmed the Hornets' place in the hat for the next round.

Mayfield: Declan Sheridan, Jack Sampson, Liam Whalley, Matt Calland, Ben Namulnatua, Paul Brearley, Sam Butterworth, Sean Mulcahy, Callum Ogden, Aidan Gleeson, Scott Watkins, Callum Marriott, Lewis Sheridan.
Substitutes: Steve Campbell, Jack Rush, Samuel Moore, Nicholas Hargreaves

Hornets: Wayne English, Kieron Walpole, David Cookson, Alex Trumper, Corey Lee, Paul Crook, Danny Yates, Samir Tahraoui, Ben Moore, Warren Thompson, Stuart Biscomb, Jordan Case, James Tilley.
Substitutes: John Cookson, Matty Hadden, Jack Francis Alex McClurg

Referee: Gareth Hewer