ROCHDALE HORNETS 22 WHITEHAVEN 24
CHARLIE BOYER, Crown Oil Arena, Sunday
JACK KELLETT’S late try and Ciaran Walker’s conversion clinched a fourth win in a row for Whitehaven in a toe-to-toe encounter.
The first real chance came after just six minutes, with Walker pouncing on a loose ball to open the scoring before improving his own try.
Moments later, Junior Sa’u was shown a yellow card for retaliation, with the visitors taking full advantage of the man advantage as Ethan Bickerdike forced his way over to extend the lead before Walker did the rest from the tee.
Rochdale registered their first points on the quarter-hour mark. Jack Hansen’s superb run from inside his half was thwarted by a ball steal, but from the penalty, Hornets found a way through thanks to Max Flanagan, who dived over before adding the extras.
Ten minutes from the break, confusion deep inside the Rochdale half meant the ball was up for grabs and Bickerdike took full advantage, offloading to Jay Weatherill, who finished the job. Walker maintained his perfect kicking record and the Cumbrian side had restored their twelve-point lead.
The deficit was halved five minutes before half-time as Lewis Hatton crashed over from close range before Flanagan converted from in front of the posts.
Right as the hooter sounded for half time, Jamie Dallimore burrowed over from acting-half to plant the ball down among a sea of Whitehaven bodies to make it a two point gap and mark his 250th career appearance with a try.
After an open and end-to-end start to the second half, the early advantage went the way of Whitehaven as James Newton’s side forced two quick drop-outs to pile pressure on the Rochdale defence, but they couldn’t make it pay as they gifted possession to Jordan Syme, who cleared the danger.
The home side took the lead for the first time moments later. Dallimore was at the heart of the action again and created the space, before Chris Barratt exploited a hole in the Whitehaven defence to nudge his side in front, with Flanagan adding the two.
They almost extended their lead just after the hour mark through Sa’u, but the makeshift winger couldn’t keep hold of the ball as he went for the line.
With ten minutes to play, Whitehaven’s Kellett looked to have grounded the ball after latching onto a short pass, but he was adjudged to have been held up.
Seven minutes from time, Kellett did have his try as he forced his way home underneath the sticks, with Walker making no mistake with the conversion.
This proved to be the decisive moment with Whitehaven holding on, and inflicting a seventh straight defeat on Rochdale.
GAMESTAR: Whitehaven’s former Rochdale forward Brad Brennan fought hard for every yard and caused constant problems for Hornets.
GAMEBREAKER: Jack Kellett’s late try and Ciaran Walker’s fourth goal from four clinched the points for the visitors.
MATCHFACTS
HORNETS
1 Max Flanagan
4 Junior Sa’u
3 Tom Ashton
11 Matty Unsworth
22 TJ Boyd
6 Jamie Dallimore
25 Jack Hansen
34 Mark Ioane
19 Luke Waterworth
23 Chris Barratt
12 Ethan Wood
13 Jordan Syme
9 Ross Whitmore
Subs (all used)
8 Jaden Dayes
10 Lewis Hatton
14 George Roby
16 Jordan Andrade
Tries: Flanagan (15), Hatton (36), Dallimore (39), Barratt (52)
Goals: Flanagan 3/4
Sin bin: Sa’u (9) – retaliation
WHITEHAVEN
7 Jack Newbegin
5 Jay Weatherill
4 Ethan Bickerdike
2 Mitchell Todd
31 Xenden Callander
6 Ciaran Walker
13 Jack Kellett
20 Marc Shackley
9 Ellison Holgate
16 Brad Brennan
12 Rio McQuistan
23 Ben Pearce
27 Woody Walker
Subs (all used)
8 Jake Pearce
25 Alfie Sinclair
26 Cole Marsh
32 Liam Williamson
Tries: C Walker (6), Bickerdike (15), Weatherill (30), Kellett (73)
Goals: C Walker 4/4
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 6-12, 6-18, 12-18, 16-18; 22-18, 22-24
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Hornets: Lewis Hatton; Whitehaven: Brad Brennan
Penalty count: 6-8
Half-time: 16-18
Referee: Carl Hughes
Attendance: 1,296