Featherstone Rovers 9 - 10 Rochdale Hornets

Hornets Rugby League

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Rochdale Hornets kicked a penalty goal with two minutes left on the clock to beat Faetherstone Rovers by a point to bounce back from two successive defeats.

Hornets came up with a herculean effort to come away from The Big Fellas Stadium with two points, something not many teams are likely do this season.

Featherstone had the lion’s share of the possession but couldn’t break the resolute Hornets defence, which handled the conditions better.

Hornets handed a debut to Jay Lobwein, with Jack Holmes and Jack Francis making their first appearances of the season. Miles Greenwood returned and Sam Wilde was brought in on dual registration from Warrington Wolves.

Inside the first ten minutes Hornets were placed on a team warning for conceding four penalties in a row, which set the tone for the afternoon. They defended amicably to keep Featherstone out though, with a big hit from Jo Taira forcing a knock on.

A rare penalty for Hornets was converted into a 2-0 lead by Lewis Palfrey.

Ian Hardman crossed for a Featherstone try, which was chalked off for a forward pass, before Hornets almost doubled their lead, only for Jake Eccleston to put down Danny Bridge’s offload.

Featherstone opened Hornets up as Anthony Thackeray raced through a gap with a great step and found Hardman in support before he was hauled down by the impressive Holmes.

Danny Yates was sin binned for a professional foul.

Michael Knowles levelled the scores with a 31st minute penalty.

Despite the man advantage Featherstone conceded as Hornets swung the ball out wide and set Rob Massam free down the left edge. After he was tackled ten metres out Bridge crashed over from Palfrey’s inside ball. Palfrey tagged on the extras to make it 8-2 at the break.

As Yates returned to the action Greenwood came up with a knock on on his own try line but a great scramble from Massam prevented a try, before Holmes shot off his line to make a brilliant tackle.

Hornets were let off the hook again when Palfrey scuffed a goal line drop-out and Cory Aston went close to scoring. Again, though, the defence held strong.

Featherstone finally found a way over from a fourth tackle penalty. Gavin Bennion was penalised for a high tackle, and the dangerous Thackeray sent Chris Ulugia over with a flat pass for a converted score.

Holmes came up with a huge play to deny them back-to-back Featherstone, as he drove to intercept Jason Walton’s pass. Palfrey hacked the ball into touch to concede a goal line drop-out rather than a try.

Bennion thought he had scored a crucial try at the other end after pouncing on Yates’ kick only for play to be pulled back for offside.

Thackeray knocked over a field goal with 12 minutes left on the clock to edge Featherstone ahead.

It was a tense ending as Hornets went in search of a match winner and Josh Crowley, who was the best on field with an immense performance, broke the line to reach Featherstone’s ten metre line and draw a penalty for interference.

All of the pressure was on Palfrey’s shoulders as he lined up the kick, but he made no mistake in slotting over the two pointer.

Hornets saw out the remaining minute to clinch a brilliant 10-9 victory.

Man-of-the-match: Josh Crowley was brilliant from start to finish as he put in a huge shift in both defence and attack, with his break inside the final two minutes proving to be the game winner.

Featherstone Rovers: Ian Hardman, Luke Briscoe, Joshua Hardcastle, Chris Ulugia, Scott Turner, Anthony Thackeray, Matthew Wildie, Richard Moore, Keal Carlile, Frankie Mariano, Michael Knowles, Jason Walton, John Davies Subs: Cory Aston, James Lockwood, Andy Bostock, Darrell Griffin.
Tries: Ulugia (55)
Goals: Knowles 1/1, Aston 1/1
Field goal: Thackeray (68)

Rochdale Hornets: Miles Greenwood, Jack Holmes, Jordan Case, Jake Eccleston, Robert Massam, Lewis Palfrey, Daniel Yates, Jo Taira, Ben Moores, Gavin Bennion, Sam Wilde, Josh Crowley, Gary Middlehurst Subs: Jay Lobwein, Jack Francis, Matty Hadden, Danny Bridge
Tries: Bridge (35)
Goals: Palfrey 3/4

Attendance: 1,839