Rochdale Hornets 46 - 0 Dewsbury Rams

Photo: Jackie Meredith

Rochdale Hornets v Dewsbury Rams
Ben Moores scores a try

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Hornets dominated the first game of their 2017 season and in comprehensively seeing off Dewsbury Rams sent out a message to the rest of the division that not only will they not be the whipping boys some may have mistakenly expected, they are a force to be reckoned with.

Hornets opened the scoring within the first ten minutes but the try was chalked off for a forward pass.

Persistent Hornets pressure paid off when Samir Tahraoui crashed over next to the posts. Lewis Palfrey with the extras.

Rochdale Hornets v Dewsbury Rams
Samir Tahraoui scores a try for Hornets

Hornets continued to press and Ben Moores dived over after Hornets battered the Dewsbury line. Palfrey with the conversion.

It got even better for Hornets midway through the half with a length of the field try; great inter passing was finished in style by Ben Moores. Palfrey made it three out of three with his boot.

A period of Dewsbury pressure was soaked up by Hornets before a burst saw Danny Yates win the foot race to the corner. Palfey missed with the kick from the touchline.

An excellent first half by Hornets, almost complete domination; Dewsbury not given any opportunity to play.

Half time: Rochdale Hornets 22 - 0 Dewsbury Rams

After a scrappy opening to the second half Hornets took control with Jo Tiara hitting the ball at pace to go over the line. Palfrey with the extras.

Palfrey put Hornets 32 points to the good with two successful penalty kicks.

Midway through the second half with the Hornets domination continuing, the game was already decided, it was just a matter of how many more Hornets could score.

The answer was three more.

The first via an interception by Chris Riley who spun the ball out to Robert Massam to score his 100th professional try. Palfrey's conversion attempt missed.

Hornets broke the 40 mark when Lewis Galbraith finished a Hornets attack. Palfrey missed the extras.

The final try of the game came when Danny Yates carved a gap for Ryan Maneely to score. Palfrey completed a superb Hornets performance with a successful conversion.

Rochdale Hornets v Dewsbury Rams
Hornets celebrate

Rochdale Hornets: Christopher Riley, Miles Greenwood, Jake Eccleston, Lewis Galbraith, Robert Massam, Lewis Palfrey, Daniel Yates, Samir Tahraoui, Ben Moores, Gavin Bennion, Daniel Bridge, Joshua Crowley, Gary Middlehurst.
Replacements: Ryan Maneely, Jovilisi Taira, Matthew Harden, Jordan Case.

Dewsbury Rams: Max Jowitt, Gareth Potts, Hamish Barnes, Jason Crooks, Mason Caton Brown, Paul Sykes, Andrew Kain, David Fifita, Dominic Speakman, Mitchell Stringer, Robert Spicer, Lucas Walshaw, Aaron Brown.
Replacements: Keegan Hirst, Robbie Ward, Tobias Adamson, Jode Sheriffe.

Referee: Ben Thaler.

Attendance: 718

Photos: Jackie Meredith
Videos: Rochdale13

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