Hornets preview

Photo: Jackie Meredith

Hornets in action against Warrington Wolves in the final pre-season friendly last weekend

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Rochdale Hornets welcome Dewsbury Rams to the Crown Oil Arena on Sunday in the first game of 2017 Kingstone Press Championship campaign.

It will be a tough test against a Dewsbury side which reached the semi-finals of the Championship Shield in 2016, and is the first meeting of the two sides since 2014 when Dewsbury picked up home and away wins.

Dewsbury go into the game off the back of a 36-4 defeat to newly promoted Super League outfit Leigh Centurions, and have had to cope with losing star trio Dalton Grant, Shane Grady and Joel Farrell to rival clubs.

Miles Greenwood is set to make his first competitive appearance for Hornets since his switch from Halifax in the off season, and the club’s number one is chomping at the bit to get started.

He said: “I can’t wait.

“That’s what the lads want to do and that’s what I want to do, we want to start competing and playing.

“Sunday is when things really start getting exciting and that’s when we start enjoying it more. So yeah, I can’t wait for the start of the season and I think we’re going to go well.”

Head coach Alan Kilshaw shares his excitement as he is looking forward to his first game in charge at this level, as he looks to lead Hornets to another successful season.

With Super League clubs starting a week later there was the chance to call on dual registration, however the Hornets coach never considered that option, as he felt it would be disrespectful to his players who have worked hard for the start of the season.

Wakefield Trinity coach Chris Chester announced that he would be sending four first team players to Dewsbury this weekend, and Kilshaw aired his thoughts on the matter.

He said: “I think first and foremost the fact he has come out and said he is sending them there for game time is a bit disappointing.

“Everyone’s dual registration partnership and relationship is different but I’m sure Glenn, like myself, wants to win the game at the weekend, and if you have lads dropping down to play for you they have to be in it for your cause not just looking for game time.

“We have a tremendous relationship with Warrington and I don’t think Tony would say things in the press like that.

“If we had a lot of injuries we might have considered it, but our lads have trained hard since November and they deserve the first shot at it.”

Kilshaw is looking forward to returning to the Crown Oil Arena on Sunday for the first competitive fixture there since Sunday 11 September against Hunslet Hawks.

He has sent a rallying call out to fans to turn up in numbers and show their support, as he feels it is what the players deserve.

He said: “We’re at home, we’re confident and we are excited about getting out there more than anything.

“We want a big crowd and we want to put a big show on and hopefully people will come back and stick with us through the season.

“We need the whole town behind us in the rain or the sun, and whether we win or lose we need to be united.

“We want everyone behind us, it is Championship rugby which people have been asking for and it is here now so let’s get out behind the lads because they deserve the support and they work hard.

“It will be great if we can get a lot of Rochdale fans there at the weekend.”

Hornets have a full squad to choose from with the only absentees being the suspended Jono Smith and long-term injured duo Dave Cookson and Michael Ratu.

Tickets for the game are still available at £15 adults, £12 concession and £5 junior and can be purchased online at www.hornetsrugbyleague.com, by calling 01706 648 004 or by visiting the club office at the stadium.