Rugby League - Challenge Cup: Whitehaven 38 - 0 Rochdale Hornets

Rochdale Hornets were consigned to a sixth straight defeat on Sunday, as they were convincingly beaten by League One side Whitehaven RLFC in the Challenge Cup.

Hornets were out enthused and out played for the majority of the game, and as a result missed out on a chance to make the last 16.

Coach Alan Kilshaw welcomed back Gary Middlehurst, Dec Gregory and Lee Mitchell following a rest, while Matty Hadden featured for the first time since the opening fixture of the season.

With Lewis Palfrey still recovering from an infection which hospitalised him, Deon Cross moved into the halves as Billy Brickhill started in the centres.

Hornets went into the break 18-0 down, despite having the better of the first quarter of the game and being a man up for 10 minutes.

Ben Moores limped off in the opening minute, before Marc Shackley was held up over the line.

Carl Forster was sent to the sin bin on 14 minutes for a late challenge, however Hornets couldn’t make the man advantage tell.

Instead the 12-men of Whitehaven opened the scoring with a penalty goal via the boot of Dan Abram, before Callum Phillips stepped past a tackle to dart over for the first try of the game.

Another penalty on the half hour mark made it 10-0, with Phillips stepping his way to a second try five minutes from the break.

On the brink of half-time, a Danny Yates kick was collected by Jessie Joe Parker, with the centre racing into the Hornets half before being hauled down. Dave Allen held on too long, and after a coming together of the players he was sent to the sin bin.

With the hooter sounding, Abram opted to add another two points from in front of the posts.

The second half started as the first ended, with Whitehaven breaking from a Yates kick – this time it resulted in a try as Danny Green raced away, with Abram crossing in support.

Four straight penalties resulted in Lewis Reece spending 10 minutes in the sin bin, and Hornets had a man advantage once again. They almost made their advantage pay, but Deon Cross was denied a walk-in try due to a forward pass.

The tie was put beyond doubt when Connor Holliday was handed a gift by Dec Kay; the full back attempted to kick the ball dead but instead laid a try on for the Whitehaven substitute.

Dion Aiye broke the line, laying on a score for Parker to make it 36-0 to Whitehaven.

Earl Hurst gave a penalty away in possession for crossing, and Abram added two points to the score line with a penalty goal from close range.

Hornets tried to find a way over with some desperate play, however it all came to nothing as they were shut out by their League One opponents.

Whitehaven: Dan Abram, Danny Green, Chris Taylor, Jason Mossop, Dave Thompson, Dion Aiye, Callum Phillips, Marc Shackley, James Tilley, Kris Coward, Liam Cooper, Ellis Gillam, Carl Forster. 
Subs: Lewis Brown, Lewis Reece, Jessie Joe Parker, Connor Holliday.
Tries: Phillips (22, 35), Abram (42), Holliday (58), Parker (63) 
Goals: Abram 9/9

Rochdale Hornets: Dec Kay, Richard Lepori, Billy Brickhill, Earl Hurst, Taylor Welch, Deon Cross, Danny Yates, Luke Adamson, Ben Moores, Lee Mitchell, Toby Adamson, Dave Allen, Gary Middlehurst. 
Subs: Dec Gregory, Lewis Hatton, Matty Hadden, Joe Taira.