Rochdale Hornets 32 - 18 Keighley Cougars

Date published: 04 September 2024

Rochdale Hornets produced their best performance of the season as they powered past Keighley Cougars on Sunday (1 September) to secure third place in the League One table and a home playoff semi-final against Hunslet RLFC.

Head coach Gary Thornton was handed the luxury of selecting an unchanged starting thirteen to the one which was successful against North Wales Crusaders last weekend, with the only changes coming on the interchange bench where Dean Roberts and Thomas Ratchford returned.

The game got underway in autumnal conditions at the Crown Oil Arena, and it was Hornets who started the better with Misi Taulapapa and Luke Forber being inches away from scoring as Rochdale looked to attack Keighley on the edges.

The deadlock was finally broken twenty four minutes into the game through the form of Luke Forber who made it 19 tries in just 16 games this season. Hornets targeted the left edge of Keighley this time and the combination of McNally and Harrop released Forber to crash over. 4-0.

Keighley struck back on their first attack after falling behind, just minutes later. Duane Straugheir was penalised for a high shot and the visitors took full advantage as Josh Lynam crossed over after Aiden Roden had slipped at the vital moment when going into tackle. Jack Miller converted. 4-6.

With the game settled into a tough affair between two good sides, the crowd had to wait until the 36th minute to see the Hornets retake the lead. Route one rugby league was the play which cracked the Cougars' resistance as Dean Roberts powered his way over under the sticks. Mackenzie Harman converted the score. 10-6.

Hornets weren’t finished for the half either as Misi ‘the missile’ Taulapapa lived up to his name to fire over for a try right on the hooter. Lewis Else turned creator once again as he dropped a lovely short ball off to Taulapapa who ran a great line to burst through and score. Harman added the extras to take Hornets into half-time with a 16-6 lead.

The second half began just as the first ended, with Hornets all over Keighley. Less than one minute into the second forty, Hornets had already scored a try. Else broke the line again to find Myles Harrop in support as he sped past a shell-shocked Cougars defence to score. Harman failed with the conversion. 20-6.

Keighley were on the ropes and their misery was compounded once again on the next set of six as Jordan Andrade powered over for yet another try. Andrade rampaged through the crumbling Cougars defence to score a second Hornets try in four second-half minutes. Harman added the two. 26-6.

Keighley soon regained their composure and began to look like a side sitting second in League One again, this showed as Billy Wakeley crossed in the corner to narrow the deficit. Miller converted. 26-12.

The visitors ramped up the pressure as they looked to make arrears for their disastrous start to the second half. The spirited Hornets defence stood firm but soon buckled as the veteran hooker George Flanagan scooted over from dummy half. Miller again converted. 26-18.

With Keighley now firing on all cylinders, the next try in the game was crucial and that try went the way of the excellent Lewis Else and Rochdale Hornets. Myles Harrop did excellently to pick off a loose ball and tiptoe down the touchline before finding the magic Else in support who ran 40m to score. Harman converted. 36-18 at full-time, third place secured in style.

A quite frankly superb performance from Hornets saw an impressive Keighley Cougars outfit put to the sword in a magnificent display of attacking endeavour and passion, a testament to the brilliant work of head coach Thornton.

As their reward for claiming third spot, Hornets will entertain Hunslet RLFC in a blockbuster play-off clash at the Crown Oil Arena on Sunday 15 September with kick-off at 3pm. Tickets are on sale now www.hornetsrugbyleague.co.uk/tickets

Report by Thomas Pearson

Photos: JMSportPix