ROCHDALE HORNETS 22 MIDLANDS HURRICANES 28
CHARLIE BOYER, Crown Oil Arena, Sunday

AIDAN McGOWAN scored two tries as Midlands edged past Rochdale in a tight affair to maintain their challenge in the play-off places, while Hornets suffered their fourth successive league defeat.

And they wasted no time, getting on the scoresheet after five minutes when a floated kick to the corner was plucked out of the air by McGowan with Sully Medforth adding the conversion.

Rochdale replied moments later however after winning a penalty inside the Hurricanes’ 10-metre area following a knock-on. From the resulting set, a quick passing move found Dan Nixon, who dotted the ball down in the corner, although Max Flanagan couldn’t add the conversion.

Midlands scored again just before the quarter-hour mark, however, as Matty Chrimes muscled his way through the Hornets’ defence to score before Medforth increased the lead to eight points.

Just after the midway point of the half, Rochdale had their second try as Ross Whitmore burrowed his way over from close range with Flanagan kicking the goal from underneath the sticks.

But again it didn’t take long for the Hurricanes to re-establish an eight-point gap, this time thanks to Toby Warren, who crashed over in the corner with Medforth maintaining his perfect record from the tee. 

Mark Dunning’s side started to take a grip on the game in the closing stages of the first half and had the bulk of the play, but Hornets did well to keep them at bay. They did, however, concede a penalty on the stroke of half time with Medforth electing to kick for goal and extend his side’s lead to ten points.

Rochdale came out of the blocks with plenty of energy at the start of the second half and enjoyed three consecutive set-restarts deep inside the Midlands half, before the Hurricanes were reduced to twelve as Oliver Roberts was sent to the sin bin following interference at the play-the-ball.

Gary Thornton’s side got back into the game when a looping pass over the top of the Midlands defence found Nixon, who leapt over in the corner to grab his second try. Flanagan nailed a tough conversion and it was a four-point ball game.

Medforth added two more points to his tally and extended his side’s lead after the Hornets conceded a penalty on their own line, with the stand-off opting to take the two once more and keep the scoreboard ticking.

McGowan had his second of the afternoon straight from the restart as he went on a barnstorming run down the wing to stretch the gap to twelve points again with Medforth’s conversion.

There was something for the home crowd to cheer just before the final hooter sounded, as Nixon broke away down the wing before passing inside to Jack Hansen, who in turn found TJ Boyd, with the winger juggling the ball before finishing.

It proved to be nothing more than a consolation however as the Hurricanes took the two points, moving up to fifth place with Rochdale defeated again and sinking to tenth place.

GAMESTAR: Sully Medforth was influential in the Hurricanes’ play, with the halfback enjoying a perfect afternoon from the tee.

GAMEBREAKER: Midlands opening up a ten-point gap on the stroke of half-time was something which Rochdale struggled to come back from, despite some early second-half pressure.

MATCHFACTS


HORNETS
1 Max Flanagan
2 Dan Nixon
28 Kieran Taylor
4 Junior Sa’u
22 TJ Boyd
6 Jamie Dallimore
25 Jack Hansen
8 Jaden Dayes
19 Luke Waterworth
17 Dylan Kelly-Duffy
12 Ethan Wood
29 Lukas Mason
9 Ross Whitmore
Subs (all used)
7 Jordan Paga
10 Lewis Hatton
34 Isaac Coleman
35 Isaac Reid

Tries: Nixon (8, 66), Whitmore (22), Boyd (79)
Goals: Flanagan 3/4

HURRICANES
1 Todd Horner
2 Matty Chrimes
3 Ryan Johnson
23 Aidan McGowan
5 Luis Roberts
19 Sully Medforth
7 Lewis Else
8 Jon Luke Kirby
9 Aiden Roden
10 Tyler Dickinson
11 Tom Wilkinson
20 Toby Warren
13 Mikey Wood
Subs (all used)
12 Oliver Roberts
16 Zeus Silk
26 Ethan Newboult
28 Isaac Shaw

Tries: McGowan (5, 75), Chrimes (13), Warren (31)
Goals: Medforth 6/6
Sin bin: O Roberts (55) – interference

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 4-6, 4-12, 10-12, 10-18, 10-20; 16-20, 16-22, 16-28, 22-28

Rugby Leaguer and League Express Men of the Match
Hornets: Dan Nixon; Hurricanes: Sully Medforth

Penalty count: 7-4
Half-time: 10-20
Referee: Matty Lynn
Attendance: 362