MIDLANDS HURRICANES 42 ROCHDALE HORNETS 4
CHARLIE BOYER, Avery Field, Sunday

DOMINANT Midlands produced a comprehensive win with former Rochdale halfback Lewis Else scoring two tries.

Home side Hurricanes struck after five minutes as Else sliced through the Hornets defence to race away and notch for Sully Medforth to add a simple conversion.

Rochdale thought they had found a quick response after TJ Boyd finished off a quick passing move in front of the Midlands line, but he had strayed into touch before grounding.

Midlands turned defence into attack in their following set and had their second after strong build-up play, with Luis Roberts crashing over wide out.

Mark Dunning’s men were in the mood for more and Jon Luke Kirby duly delivered with a barnstorming run before Medforth added the extras for 16-0.

The visitors started to grow into the game with Jamie Dallimore’s kicks proving troubling for the Midlands defence. A drop-out was forced, but Rochdale gave the ball away inside their opponents 20.

The error proved costly as soon after, Else grabbed his second try, dancing around some poor defence to finish. Medforth opened up a 22-point gap from the tee.

Seven minutes from the turn, Gary Thornton’s side were temporarily reduced to twelve men following Ethan Wood’s swinging arm on Else, with a melee ensuing before the yellow card was brandished.

Right on the stroke of half-time, Midlands extended their lead thanks to Aidan McGowan, who worked around the defence to add his name to the try-scorers.

Midlands started the second half as they had the first, with a quick try. After some pressure on the Rochdale line, James Woodburn-Hall strolled through a gap to score with Medforth adding the goal.

Rochdale had a chance just before the hour mark when George Roby stretched out among a sea of bodies but couldn’t quite manage to keep hold of the ball as he tried to plant it down, with Zeus Silk clearing the danger.

Woodburn-Hall scored his second try 20 minutes from time and Medforth kicked another conversion.

Medforth was the next to score for the home side in what had become a rout, finishing off a fast team move.

Five minutes from time, the travelling supporters did have something to cheer as Dan Nixon scored wide out with a typical flying finish. This, of course, proved to be a mere consolation on a day where Midlands picked up their third successive win.

GAMESTAR: Midlands winger Aidan McGowan worked hard in defence and rescued his side from danger on a number of occasions, particularly during Rochdale’s, and Jamie Dallimore’s, best spells of the game.

GAMEBREAKER: Lewis Else’s second try, which came after a rare period of pressure from Hornets, helped make it 22-0.

MATCHFACTS

HURRICANES
30 James Woodburn-Hall
2 Matty Chrimes
3 Luis Roberts
4 Ross Oakes
23 Aidan McGowan
19 Sully Medforth
7 Lewis Else
8 Jon Luke Kirby
9 Aiden Roden
10 Tyler Dickinson
11 Tom Wilkinson
20 Toby Warren
15 Elliot Morris
Subs (all used)
16 Zeus Silk
17 Kieran Moran
26 Ethan Newboult
28 Isaac Shaw

Tries: Else (5, 21), Roberts (10), Kirby (13), McGowan (38), Woodburn-Hall (47, 60), Medforth (65)
Goals: Medforth 5/8

HORNETS
1 Max Flanagan
22 TJ Boyd
35 Alex Chippendale
4 Junior Sa’u
2 Dan Nixon
6 Jamie Dallimore
25 Jack Hansen
23 Chris Barratt
19 Luke Waterworth
8 Jaden Dayes
9 Ross Whitmore
12 Ethan Wood
13 Jordan Syme
Subs (all used)
10 Lewis Hatton
14 George Roby
16 Jordan Andrade
34 Mark Ioane

Tries: Nixon (75)
Goals: Flanagan 0/1
Sin bin: Wood (33) – high tackle

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 10-0, 16-0, 22-0, 26-0; 32-0, 38-0, 42-0, 42-4

Rugby Leaguer and League Express Men of the Match
Hurricanes: Aidan McGowan; Hornets: Jamie Dallimore

Penalty count: 11-4
Half-time: 26-0
Referee: Aaryn Belafonte
Attendance: 200