Rochdale Hornets rally to defeat Keighley Cougars

[Total Rugby League]

ROCHDALE HORNETS 24 KEIGHLEY COUGARS 10 CHARLIE BOYER, Crown Oil Arena, Sunday ROCHDALE had to respond to being behind at the break to ensure their...

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[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Another very entertaining performance from Hornets. The first half was a real old fashioned arm wrestle with both defences on top form. If you go off possession stats I’d say Keighley just about shaded it. They were on our line more than we were on theirs. Indeed it took a fantastic tackle from replacement full back TJ Boyd to keep our line intact. It looked a try all over but somehow he managed to keep out a much bigger opponent right by the posts. 
It was looking like a 0-0 half time score line when a speculative kick from Keighley bounced really kindly and allowed them to score in the corner. The conversion was missed so 0-4 at half time.

The coach obviously had a few things to say at half time but whatever it was it worked. Hornets came out full of fire. Almost immediately Lewis Hatton crashed over followed by Tom Ashton with a similar score, both converted by Jamie Dallimore. Hornets were on top now and forcing mistakes from a shaken Keighley. TJ Boyd added to his growing reputation by scoring a brace of tries, again converted by Jamie Dallimore.  We didn’t exactly rack our cue but the game was won. Keighley never gave up trying and scored a really well worked try 2 minutes from the end. The only time our defence was breached by a running play. This was converted but the hooter went shortly afterwards.

All in all a good day at the office. Everybody contributed at some point in some way. Dan Nixon was peppered with high balls and took everyone effortlessly. Jack Hansen had a quiet debut but you could see he’ll be a good organiser. Dallimore was in his usual form and his kicking game was excellent. TJ Boyd looked really good after taking Flanagan place at fullback. I don’t think we’ve heard the last about the “ tackle “ that forced Flanny off the field very early on.

Onward Hornets, Onward.

[ormskirknet]

Very good start to the 2nd half….the first 15 minutes of the 2nd half took the wind out of the Cougars after a fairly even 1st half

Dan Nixon was faultless under the high ball, Dallimore was getting under the skin of there players and fans, how many times have we seen that when Dali was playing against us, his experience this season in taking us around the pitch is something we haven’t seen for a good few years, kicking wise he’s first class and the lad get stuck in tackling too. Hansen looks as though he’s going to be a handful and Hatton off the bench ran very hard.

i did think we looked lightweight compared to Cougars bigger side at kickoff but we more than held our own, if not dominant. Reading a few of the Cougars fans comments we outmuscled them upfront…..just goes to show the determination we’ve got in the team this season I guess, which is great to see.

Toughest test of league season coming up next week IMO in Hunslet who are used to playing championship rugby.

Final thought goes to the poor Cougars fan who squeaked and squawked through the whole game, poor lady must have been in serious pain or sat on a nail or both….for those of you who couldn’t hear her (are you deaf) think of Joe Pasquale crossed between a dying seagull and Hilda Ogden ‘Get em on side’……I wish her a speedy recovery from whatever she’s struggling with…… it’s all the fun of RL I guess.
Well done Hornets

Edited February 15 by ormskirknet

[Joe 90]

2 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Another very entertaining performance from Hornets. The first half was a real old fashioned arm wrestle with both defences on top form. If you go off possession stats I’d say Keighley just about shaded it. They were on our line more than we were on theirs. Indeed it took a fantastic tackle from replacement full back TJ Boyd to keep our line intact. It looked a try all over but somehow he managed to keep out a much bigger opponent right by the posts. 
It was looking like a 0-0 half time score line when a speculative kick from Keighley bounced really kindly and allowed them to score in the corner. The conversion was missed so 0-4 at half time.

The coach obviously had a few things to say at half time but whatever it was it worked. Hornets came out full of fire. Almost immediately Lewis Hatton crashed over followed by Tom Ashton with a similar score, both converted by Jamie Dallimore. Hornets were on top now and forcing mistakes from a shaken Keighley. TJ Boyd added to his growing reputation by scoring a brace of tries, again converted by Jamie Dallimore.  We didn’t exactly rack our cue but the game was won. Keighley never gave up trying and scored a really well worked try 2 minutes from the end. The only time our defence was breached by a running play. This was converted but the hooter went shortly afterwards.

All in all a good day at the office. Everybody contributed at some point in some way. Dan Nixon was peppered with high balls and took everyone effortlessly. Jack Hansen had a quiet debut but you could see he’ll be a good organiser. Dallimore was in his usual form and his kicking game was excellent. TJ Boyd looked really good after taking Flanagan place at fullback. I don’t think we’ve heard the last about the “ tackle “ that forced Flanny off the field very early on.

Onward Hornets, Onward.

Great summary !

[Joe 90]

1 hour ago, ormskirknet said:

Very good start to the 2nd half….the first 15 minutes of the 2nd half took the wind out of the Cougars after a fairly even 1st half

Dan Nixon was faultless under the high ball, Dallimore was getting under the skin of there players and fans, how many times have we seen that when Dali was playing against us, his experience this season in taking us around the pitch is something we haven’t seen for a good few years, kicking wise he’s first class and the lad get stuck in tackling too. Hansen looks as though he’s going to be a handful and Hatton off the bench ran very hard.

i did think we looked lightweight compared to Cougars bigger side at kickoff but we more than held our own, if not dominant. Reading a few of the Cougars fans comments we outmuscled them upfront…..just goes to show the determination we’ve got in the team this season I guess, which is great to see.

Toughest test of league season coming up next week IMO in Hunslet who are used to playing championship rugby.

Final thought goes to the poor Cougars fan who squeaked and squawked through the whole game, poor lady must have been in serious pain or sat on a nail or both….for those of you who couldn’t hear her (are you deaf) think of Joe Pasquale crossed between a dying seagull and Hilda Ogden ‘Get em on side’……I wish her a speedy recovery from whatever she’s struggling with…… it’s all the fun of RL I guess.
Well done Hornets

How good is Dan under the high ball, and why did Keighley keep kicking it to him 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Just now, Joe 90 said:

How good is Dan under the high ball, and why did Keighley keep kicking it to him 

It’s a mystery to me. He never missed one.

 

[FILIPODELTORO]

A wonderful performance by the lads yesterday, we did look to be suffering a Wigan Warriors hangover in the first half against a big Cougars side.

Hansen and Dallimore at halfbacks looked a bit out of sorts but come the second half, I feel they started to gel and that reflected in our general play.

Great to have two halfbacks with a varied kicking game, and yes Dalli was getting under the skin of Keighley players and supporters alike. Keighley’s Flanagan was doing his best to ref the game but seemed to give up when subbed. That poor Keighley lady, I hope she manages to get to the Doctors this week, she sounded in absolute agony rattling out the tried and tested shouts. Gerum onside!

 A couple of things that stood out yesterday, Dan Nixon, was faultless, two huge hits on Keihgley players under the high ball, and in return, never looked in trouble under kicks faced with 2 6ft plus centre wing combos from Keighley.

A bit of a whinge, why was the Keighley trainer allowed on to the field during the Max Flanagan concussion, he appeared to be going to Max’s assistance, but then did an about turn and started chirping at the ref and touch judges, clearly trying to influence the decision of what was a clear head contact and in my opinion a sin bin and put on report.

All in all, a great win the week after getting the run around from Wigan, again, testament to the conditioning team to get the lads in shape and manage the lads correctly after last weeks efforts in the cup.

This team looks to have character and stays in a game. Whilst we lack size our efforts should see us through most games and bigger teams are likely to tire.

 

Onward Hornets Onward!

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I think our fitness levels are improved this season. We look to have something in the tank at the end of games. I agree regarding the first half and the after effects of the Wigan game. We had to do a hell of a lot of tackling in that game as we very rarely had the ball. I missed the Flanny incident but my pal who saw it thought it was a “ no arms “ tackle. We’ll see what the judiciary has to say.

Edited February 16 by Tyrone Shoelaces