North Wales Crusaders 30-16 Rochdale Hornets

Photo: Ryan Gould

North Wales Crusaders 30-16 Rochdale Hornets

Rochdale Hornets will have to wait another year to progress into the Northern Rail Cup knock-out stages after a 30-16 defeat to North Wales Crusaders in Wrexham.

Hornets had the better of the first half, inspired by the impressive Lee Gaskell, who showed a vast improvement on last weekend's disappointing display against Oldham, as they lead 16-12 at the break.

However, North Wales came out firing in the second period, running in three tries without reply to put themselves in pole position to seal a place in the Bowl Final.

Ian Talbot, Hornets' head coach, said: "It was a good game. Up until the 60 minute mark it was set for set."

"They took their chances and they had better ball control, so that told in the end. We were 50 per-cent overall [completion rate] and they were 75 per-cent in that second half.

"We made too many handling errors to come away with the win, but there were improvements on last week and things we can improve on."

North Wales were awarded a penalty for a ball steal and, on the back of that, Johnson opened the scoring for the hosts after an offload from Andy Moulsdale.

That was met by a swift response from Hornets as they twice assaulted the Crusaders' left edge defence, and on both occasions it paid off, with Lee Gaskell and Danny Davies both crossing for tries.

Crusaders were soon back on level terms, however, as, after another sloppy penalty given away by the visitors, Dave McConnell crashed over from close range.

Rochdale then turned defence into attack as they went over for their third - and what turned out to be their last - try of the afternoon. Crusaders ran the ball down the left flank, but Durbin's pass to Middlehurst fell to ground, and Gaskell was there to collect and race 90 metres to score his second.

Rob Massam replied for the home side, though, as he touched down in the corner after a looping pass from Jamie Durbin.

And it was Durbin who was provider for Massam's second, after a fine faint and pass from Jono Smith in the build-up to the try had created the overlap.

The victory was rounded off for the hosts with a Simon Stephens try, and there was still time for Rob Massam to go over for his third, which would have been a first for a North Wales Crusaders player, but he had placed a foot in-touch in the process.

Hornet's misery was concluded with the dismissal of Langley for punching on the hooter.

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS

1. Tommy Johnson
17. Stuart Reardon
3. Christiaan Roets
4. Leon Brennan
5. Rob Massam
6. Andy Moulsdale
7. Jamie Durbin
8. Jonny Walker
14. Dave McConnell
21. Simon Stephens
11. Andy Gorski
12. Gary Middlehurst
13. Jono Smith

Subs: 
10. Phil Braddish
16. Ryan MacDonald
29. Stephen Bannister
9. Lee Hudson

Tries: Johnson 5, McConnell 20, Massam 51, 68, Stephens 71
Goals: Johnson 5/5

ROCHDALE HORNETS
1. Wayne English
2. Gaz Langley
30. Lee Gaskell
31. Dave Hull
5. Dave Sutton
6. Paul Crook
7. Steve Roper
8. John Cookson
9. Alex McClurg
10. Warren Thompson
14. Alex Trumper
16. Danny Davies
29. Joe Greenwood

Subs: 
11. Chris Baines
32. Nathan Ashe
4. Mike Ratu
28. Gareth Frodsham

Tries: Gaskell 8, 36, Davies 16
Goals: Crook 2/3

Referee: Peter Brooke / HT: 12-16 / Penalties: 8-6 / Attendance: 693 / Sent-off: Langley (Rochdale, 79mins, punching)