Rochdale Hornets 28 - 16 Swinton Lions

Photo: Simon Danczuk

Rochdale Hornets v Swinton Lions

In their best performance of the season to date, Rochdale Hornets ground out a win in the local derby against Swinton Lions.

Local boy and former Rochdale Swarm (the Hornets supporters team) player, Jack Ashworth was superb in a Hornets team that put on an excellent defensive effort to keep the Swinton attack at bay.

Hornets dominated the opening five minutes and opened the scoring with a try from Dave Hull, converted by Paul Crook.

Lions hit back to level the score within five minutes as Richard Hawkyard went over. Converted by Chris Atkin.

Danny Yates restored Hornets lead midway through the half. Charnock with the extras.

Swinton hit back with a try, again from Hawkyard, to close the gap. The conversion was missed.

Hornets took control of the game with tries either side of half time; Ant Walker, Crook converted, and Jack Ashworth, Crook missed the conversion.

Swinton refused to lie down and came back at Hornets and eventually the Hornets defence was breached. The try bringing Swinton back within a try and a conversion of Hornets.

Swinton threw everything they had at Hornets to try and level the game and Hornets had their backs well and truly to the wall as they were forced to defend five sets in succession, but defend they did and somehow kept the Lions at bay.

With the game finely balanced and the tension palpable, it was to be Hornets day as Danny Yates benefitted from a ricochet to score a freak try. Crook rounded off the scoring with his conversion.

Rochdale Hornets: Wayne English, Dale Bloomfield, Lee Paterson, Dave Hull, Gareth Langley, Lewis Charnock, Danny Yates, Ryan Smith, Danny Bridge, James Tilley, Jack Ashworth, Warren Thompson, Matty Hadden, Tony Suffolk, Ant Walker.

Swinton Lions: Chris Atkin, Shaun Robinson, Stuart Littler, Richard Hawkyard, Andy Ackers, Mike Morrison, Aaron Lloyd, Ben White, Jordan James, Rob Lever, Josh Barlow, Darren Hawkyard, Mick Govin, Tommy Gallagher, Ben Austin, Connor Dwyer.