Revenge is sweet for Hopwood

2009/10 Treble Winners Hopwood Hall Rugby Academy

Rochdale's Hopwood Hall College Rugby League Academy got the ultimate revenge from there opening day defeat in the reverse fixture with a blistering 52-4 route against Wigan and Leigh College.

It was the visitors who started the brightest, setting up good field play to score after a neat grubber from stand off Matt McCabe.

The opening score kicked Hopwood into shape, as they responded with a couple of quick scores, with Man of the Match Danny Moran scoring and having a hand in the others. The boot of Lawlor added the extras, missing only the final conversion of the five tries from the opening period.

The second half started slowly with Hopwood again letting Wigan and Leigh set up good position through unforced errors and needless penalties.

Hopwood did not let up and with some brutal defence from Tala, Moran, Francis and 'Simba' dishing out the hits, they managed to keep Wigan and Leigh at bay.

Hopwood will take there form forward to next weeks bruising encounter away at Salford City College, in there top of the league clash which will allow the winners to put one hand on the league championship.

The re-introduction of powerful prop Jack Francis was the game breaker, as Francis powered through the defence on numerous occasions, setting up another try for Moran and helping himself to a brace along the way.

Francis will go on to represent the Community Lions on Friday and, on this showing, is one to watch for the future.

Final Score: 52-4

Hopwood: 1. O'Shea; 2 Matthews; 3 Mulcahly; 4 Lees; 5 Lawlor; 6 Tala; 7 Tindall; 8 Whalley; 9 Moran; 10 Collins; 11 Watson; 12 Mills; 13 Eastwood; 14 Lambert; 15 Francis; 16 Robinson; 17 Neate; 18 Consatnoui