Rochdale Hornets 29 - 22 Gateshead Thunder

Hornets are loving being back at Spotland, a fine win against Gateshead Thunder today makes it three in a row at home.

Langley lead the way with four tries and half way through the second half Hornets fans probably had a sense of deja vu and could be forgiven for thinking another huge second half score was on the cards but to their credit Gateshead dug deep and clawed enough points back to have Hornets pleased to hear the final whistle.

Hornets were quick out of the traps when a clever cut out pass from Wayne English put Gaz Langley in at the corner. Crook missed the conversion.

English and Langley combined well again for the second try with Langley going over again off English's pass.

English was pulling the strings and another another cut out pass allowed Martin Waring to dive in at the corner.

Hornets put the ball through the hands from wing to wing for Langley to dive in for his hat trick. Crook missed his fourth attempted conversion.

Four trys to nil was a fair reflection of Hornets' dominance for the first half hour. However, Gateshead stepped up to the mark and piled the pressure on the Hornets defence and the pressure paid off as Heil went over for the first Gateshead try with ten minutes of the first half remaining.

Bit between their teeth, Gateshead started throwing the ball well and Payne crashed over by the posts to pull another one back. Hardcastle's conversion was successful and Gateshead had pegged Hornets back to a six point lead at half time.

Half time: Rochdale Hornets 16 - 10 Gateshead Thunder

The second half began with good Hornets pressure and, following a second try of the game disallowed, the pressure paid off when Danny Yates went in under the posts. Crook converted.

Langley's fourth try was one of power and finesse. Yates with a slick pass to Davies who laid off back inside to Crook, quick hands to Langley who went clear to the line. Crook converted to give Hornets an 18 point lead.

Just as it seemed Hornets would run away with it in the second half for the third game in a row, Gateshead hit back again, Hardcastle selling Hornets an outrageous dummy to score and then convert his own try.

A Danny Yates drop goal took Hornets thirteen points clear but Gateshead gave Hornets supporters a nervous final five when Stamp broke away to go over and Hardcastle converted to take Gateshead within seven points of Hornets.

That was, however, the last of the scoring before the hooter.

A spirited Gateshead performance but never quite enough to trouble Hornets too much.

A third win on the trot for Hornets sets them up nicely for what is now a massive derby game against Oldham later in the week.