glemiln

Just two home games, Cornwall and Town, before our 5 consecutive away days, with the last of those at Cougars and Town. Thankfully, 5 of our last 6 fixtures are home, inc lastly, Cougars again, to prepare for the play-offs. I had not noticed (or forgotten) that this League 1 season has a new end game. Top place still auto promotion. 2-6 play-offs with their final winner having to beat 12th Championship club to secure 13th spot for Championship status in 2025. Presumably, on a neutral ground? 2025…….13 club Championship; 10 or 11 (?) League 1 with a “Super 8’s” style competition* - top teams in League 1 and the lowest-ranked teams in the Championship to determine promotion/relegation. (* to be finalised and aimed to create 12 in the Championship). (11 (?) RFL planning any application process.) 2026…….12 clubs in both Championship and League 1. (to be finalised, but continuing the “Super 8’s” style competition /promotion/ relegation). ps. “There will be a significant increase in prize money for the Betfred Championship Grand Final winners from 2024, recognising that the winners of this match will no longer secure automatic promotion to the Super League – the Championship should be seen as a significant competition to win in its own right.”! Trust I haven’t missed anything. From now, Hornets back to continuous winning ways and the encouraging greater spectator involvement.

And nearly did we reached the summit! That we outscored Keighley second half 18-12 augurs well for the rest of the season - well played everyone. Hopefully a good attendance - I guess we were noisy!

Hornets 12-30 down at ht; seems a too big hill to climb

It seems that showers will be greeting what I hope will be a great crowd for Sunday’s tough encounter with, for now, unbeaten league leaders. Their squad (on X ) includes former Hornet, Lewis Hatton who has been retained until 2027. Ref - Brad Milligan. This below will do but a much better crowd: HORNETS 29 – 14 KEIGHLEY COUGARS Match URL www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/44522 Status Completed Date Sunday, 8th March, 2020 Kick Off 3:00 PM (local time) Referee Liam Staveley Venue Crown Oil Arena (Rochdale) Crowd 541 MATCH STATS Halftime Score 14 – 10 ROCHDALE SCORESHEET KEIGHLEY Sam HOPKINS T Richie HAWKYARD Andy LEA Jack MILLER Jamie TRACEY Jake WEBSTER Liam WHALLEY Samuel FREEMAN 6 G Jack MILLER Martyn RIDYARD FG ROCHDALE TEAMS KEIGHLEY Samuel FREEMAN 1 FB 5 Alfie SEELEY Brad HOLROYD 2 W 2 Mo AGORO Ben CALLAND 3 C 4 Macauley HALLETT Jack HIGGINSON 3 C 4 Jake WEBSTER Dale BLOOMFIELD 2 W 5 Richie HAWKYARD Lewis SHERIDAN 5 FE 6 Jack MILLER Martyn RIDYARD 7 HB 15 Billy GAYLOR Callum MARRIOTT 10 FR 13 Dan PARKER Sean PENKYWICZ 9 HK 12 Jason MURANKA Sam HOPKINS 10 FR 10 Dan HAWKSWORTH Jordan SYME 16 2R 17 Lewis WRAY Jamie TRACEY 12 2R 11 Aaron LEVY Andy LEA 13 L 1 Louis SHERIFF Declan SHERIDAN 14 B 14 Jack COVENTRY Luke FOWDEN 15 B 9 James FEATHER Adam HESKETH 16 B 16 Matthew BAILEY Liam WHALLEY 17 B 17 Ryan WRIGHT Matt CALLAND HC Rhys LOVEGRO

Hopefully, not a few from Oldham will come to Hornets next Sunday to cheer us against Keighley. Surely, a good turn out after today’s important result.

Hope the super faithful at the game are ok - it was tense enough online! It will be a noisy and great journey home. Well done to all.

Amazing travel value….it would cost me nearly that to vacate my village to the nearest train station to go anywhere! Surely there will be more than one coach? Pick up at Warrington and inflatables? Catering for all too! Bring back the points, at least.

Hopefully, we can now consolidate in the top places. It was disappointing to read that only 379 saw the obvious flowing rugby and talent on show. Next week’s tough game at Crusaders should help our focus (and win), prepare for the visit of Keighley and with luck at least 2000 souls! Hope too, that Newcastle can keep progressing.

I guess a very tense 24-24 draw….and hopefully a good turnout at Castleton?

Oldhamers will have to restrain the local “vernacular” terminology if matters do not go your way. Unless you are saving most until you visit Hornets late July!

Oldham could be nearer to three digits, home against Cornwall on Sunday! Hopefully, our key absentees are returning soon and a settled squad to meet the usual schedule...reminder - After our Newcastle home game, it's Crusaders away to prepare for home games versus Keighley, Cornwall and Workington, before 5 away fixtures until we return 21 July! Our last game is Keighley - at the Crown.

Anyone braved the awful conditions to give witness to our ‘performance’? A Workington supporter said we were terrible!

Excellent win for you. Deja vu all over again for our ex Coach Alan Kilshaw, after Hornets’ 2016 Promotion Final victory in Toulouse. I guess he was as ecstatic yesterday as then. Not sure the opponents were! Good fortune for the season - hopefully we shall join you there sometime soon!

How is it up there this morning? BBC forecast is showing you mid 50’s mph currently and most of the day; tomorrow 57mph to wake you up and early 50’s most of the day. Rochdale mid 40’s mph tomorrow until mid afternoon. It will not be fun for walkers and drivers. If the game is played, you may soon run out of balls, so to speak! I am too far away (slight wind and sun!), even from Rochdale. Keep safe folks.

The weather forecast this weekend, especially for Workington with 40mph winds today and 50mph+ over the weekend plus some rain. Affecting Rochdale too! Keep safe and the powder dry!