Whitehaven snatch fourth straight win at Rochdale Hornets

[Total Rugby League]

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...

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[FILIPODELTORO]

The most famous quote defining insanity or madness is:

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

Well, it was in full evidence yesterday.

We’re playing Whitehaven, a tough, uncompromising team from Cumbria, so it was pretty obvious what we were going to get. Twelve minutes on the clock and we’re 12 points down, with the scores coming off the back of individual mistakes and a complete brain explosion from Junior Sau.

I thought the sin-binning was harsh, although I’m presuming Junior failed the "attitude test" when the referee called him over to discuss his facial right in front of the touch judge and the travelling Whitehaven fans.

About 15 minutes in, we finally woke up and clawed our way back into the game, going into half-time with a respectable 25 minutes of rugby under our belts.

I’ve said it countless times, but we are completely unable to manage games, sustain leads and, at times, seem to have no desire to compete.

Look at Haven’s third try. The lad had four Hornets players tackling him and still managed to get the ball down. In the second half, we spent countless sets defending, seemingly happy to move three yards off our line and wait for Haven to run into us. With the ball, we were pedestrian.

Then you have senior players high-fiving each other and winding up the away fans after shoving a lad into touch, only for us to then have another complete brain explosion and cost ourselves again. Didn't something very similar happen at Keighley away with that individual?

I honestly cannot see us winning another game this season.

There are a sizeable number of players who simply aren't good enough and, at times, don't appear willing to graft for the shirt. The irony is that some of those players have already been given new contracts for next season.

Two positives from yesterday:

Roby — when he came on, he noticeably sped up the ruck and looked enthusiastic and willing to make things happen.

The crowd — surprisingly good considering the season we’re having. Does anyone know the official attendance?

Finally, and on a completely separate note — and probably not something Hornets have any control over — I and others were absolutely disgusted to get to our seats yesterday and find many of them absolutely caked in bird droppings, along with the floor around them.

Firstly, it’s disgusting. Secondly, it’s a genuine health issue. And thirdly, I find it difficult to believe this would be allowed to happen if the football club were playing at the stadium.

I mentioned it to a steward, who looked at me blankly and seemed far more concerned about me going for a coffee at half-time through the doors at the back of the directors' box because I didn't have a wristband on.

Priorities, eh?

[Pedro]

I agree with you Filipo. We are our own worst enemies. Far too many silly mistakes. This was a game that we could have won. I can't see us winning another match this season. I also agree re Roby and I thought Lewis Hatton put in a good stint as usual. 

I worry about next year as I think that some of our better players will depart. 

[Anita Bath]

3 hours ago, FILIPODELTORO said:

The most famous quote defining insanity or madness is:

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

Well, it was in full evidence yesterday.

We’re playing Whitehaven, a tough, uncompromising team from Cumbria, so it was pretty obvious what we were going to get. Twelve minutes on the clock and we’re 12 points down, with the scores coming off the back of individual mistakes and a complete brain explosion from Junior Sau.

I thought the sin-binning was harsh, although I’m presuming Junior failed the "attitude test" when the referee called him over to discuss his facial right in front of the touch judge and the travelling Whitehaven fans.

About 15 minutes in, we finally woke up and clawed our way back into the game, going into half-time with a respectable 25 minutes of rugby under our belts.

I’ve said it countless times, but we are completely unable to manage games, sustain leads and, at times, seem to have no desire to compete.

Look at Haven’s third try. The lad had four Hornets players tackling him and still managed to get the ball down. In the second half, we spent countless sets defending, seemingly happy to move three yards off our line and wait for Haven to run into us. With the ball, we were pedestrian.

Then you have senior players high-fiving each other and winding up the away fans after shoving a lad into touch, only for us to then have another complete brain explosion and cost ourselves again. Didn't something very similar happen at Keighley away with that individual?

I honestly cannot see us winning another game this season.

There are a sizeable number of players who simply aren't good enough and, at times, don't appear willing to graft for the shirt. The irony is that some of those players have already been given new contracts for next season.

Two positives from yesterday:

Roby — when he came on, he noticeably sped up the ruck and looked enthusiastic and willing to make things happen.

The crowd — surprisingly good considering the season we’re having. Does anyone know the official attendance?

Finally, and on a completely separate note — and probably not something Hornets have any control over — I and others were absolutely disgusted to get to our seats yesterday and find many of them absolutely caked in bird droppings, along with the floor around them.

Firstly, it’s disgusting. Secondly, it’s a genuine health issue. And thirdly, I find it difficult to believe this would be allowed to happen if the football club were playing at the stadium.

I mentioned it to a steward, who looked at me blankly and seemed far more concerned about me going for a coffee at half-time through the doors at the back of the directors' box because I didn't have a wristband on.

Priorities, eh?

Dale fans are also vocal about the bird droppings issue. 

[chasbfc1]

We're the architects of our own downfall at times and when you gift a side like that chances and give away easy tries as we did, you're absolutely done for. I wasn't at Barrow but by all accounts, we put in a real shift and went for it. It was there in fits and starts today but we never really looked like winning it, even when we were in front.

Couldn't keep hold of the lead when we got it and never looked like we were going to go on to win it, agree with the points RE Roby and Hatton, those two have got to be in the player of the year conversation for their effort and commitment alone.

As for the wristband issue, i was hassled for one as well even though i was wearing my media pass and accreditation! Never been asked for one before, very strange.

On a more positive note, great to see so many people down at the Hive earlier in the day for the 7s festival and women's game (including members of the men's squad).  A huge win for the women as well and a thoroughly dominant performance.

Safe travels to anyone who's braving the trip to Workington!

[The Lad]

It's been the same story throughout the season, we can't do a full 80 min. We either let teams get a lead and give ourselves too much to do or we give teams chances to get back into the game. Yesterday was unfortunately both.

12-0 in the first 10 mins from a dropped ball and Junior Sau "asserting authority" (according to fans trying to justify what was a stupid after tackle incident right in front of the linesman). And it didn't get much better 18-6 down because we couldn't live with Whitehaven ruck speed, we looked like statues. 

We did well to go in 16-18 at half time mostly thanks to Lewis Hatton who made an immediate impact as he took it to Whitehaven and forced players to follow him.

Second half we started better and managed to get into the lead and the game was competitive, but we had no ball management. Giving away the ball needlessly then walking Haven up the field with penalties put us under pressure and while the goal line defending was great to see, we shouldn't have been in those positions. The game winning try with 5 to go was a gut punch, but with all that ball and territory Haven had it didn't surprise me. 

What's really disappointing is with our 6 week away trip around the league over, needing a win to keep playoff hopes alive and having a home game against a beatable team,  we let them run at us, make too many yards after contact, gave them too much ball in dangerous areas and ultimately lost a close but costly game. 

[Anita Bath]

11 weeks between home games I think.

[Billy King's Boots]

For me it was the archetypal story of two teams in very different places mentally.

Whitehaven are on a real roll at the moment, and playing with confidence. They're thinking "As long as we can stay in this game, we can win it."

Hornets, conversely, are a team in a losing run and look short on confidence. Even when they got back in the game, you could sense the attitude shift into "We must not lose this game" - and that panic breeds poor decision-making, poor discipline, pushed passes, nerves in key positions the errors that come with the palpable tension.

As such, Whitehaven didn't have to do much for the win - just wait for Hornets' nerves to kick in and capitalise as we handed them the ball or gifted them field position.

At Barrow, there was no pressure. Expected to lose, it was free swing and the players looked much more relaxed and 'in the zone'.

It was always going to be a gruelling challenge this season - and it's proven to be so.

Edited August 10 by Billy King's Boots

[FILIPODELTORO]

9 hours ago, Billy King's Boots said:

For me it was the archetypal story of two teams in very different places mentally.

Whitehaven are on a real roll at the moment, and playing with confidence. They're thinking "As long as we can stay in this game, we can win it."

Hornets, conversely, are a team in a losing run and look short on confidence. Even when they got back in the game, you could sense the attitude shift into "We must not lose this game" - and that panic breeds poor decision-making, poor discipline, pushed passes, nerves in key positions the errors that come with the palpable tension.

As such, Whitehaven didn't have to do much for the win - just wait for Hornets' nerves to kick in and capitalise as we handed them the ball or gifted them field position.

At Barrow, there was no pressure. Expected to lose, it was free swing and the players looked much more relaxed and 'in the zone'.

It was always going to be a gruelling challenge this season - and it's proven to be so.

I wouldn’t disagree with anything you’ve said. The nerves would, and should, be settled by the senior players using their experience to manage games properly on the pitch.

I’ll no doubt get scolded for these comments, because as nice a bloke as he is, we’ve had much of the same for three years under GT — drifting through games, unable to sustain 80 minutes, and signing forwards (and jeez has he signed a lot who just simply vanish after a game or two) who would give the Seven Dwarfs a run for their money!

That said, Barrett and Iaone have been a breath of fresh air, while Hatton’s energy and graft have also been a real positive. At least we looked physically fitter this year compared with the last couple of seasons.

I fully appreciate that our budget is nothing like some of the other clubs, and, in fear of repeating myself, budgets can be as big or as small as you like. But if the players aren’t prepared to play with effort, desire and commitment, then ultimately it’s a waste of time, regardless of the budgets.

Our results away from home, Barrow aside, have been nothing short of embarrassing. If Halifax and North Wales hadn’t had the predicaments they’ve had this season, I genuinely think we’d be finishing in the bottom two.

That’s not meant as a dig at individuals, but at some point we have to be honest about where we are on the pitch and what needs to improve. We have a board who clearly backs the coach. But we need experienced players taking control on the field, managing games better, behaving and making sure the effort and commitment are there for the full 80 minutes from 1-13.

Edited August 11 by FILIPODELTORO

[Sainthamish]

I thought we attacked well and defended well for most parts but, we gifted Whitehaven the win with our mistakes.  I thought we would go on to win when we defended 3 sets on our line then went down their end and scored to take the lead. I was most disappointed though with our lack of energy in the final 10 minutes or so. We made some substitutions with around 10 minutes to go and our players that came on looked more tired than the players who went off.  We were slow to get back following the 40-20 and there were gaps in our defence as a result which they capitalised on. We needed more energy and intensity at that moment in the game.