SHEFFIELD EAGLES 56 ROCHDALE HORNETS 6
DAN FOWLER, MEPS International Home of Football Stadium, Sunday

SHEFFIELD ran riot in the second half to register a comfortable victory against an out-of-form Rochdale.

The Eagles capitalised on a tiring Hornets defence with four tries in the final 13 minutes of the game as they knocked on the door of the 60-point mark.

Rochdale had the first real opportunity to post points on the board, winning the ball back deep in the Eagles’ half after Alex Chippendale put opposite number Billy Walkley into touch. A goal-line dropout followed from a deft Jamie Dallimore kick but no breakthrough came as Sheffield defended resolutely to deny the Hornets’ last tackle run play.

It took until the 19th minute for the first try of the afternoon, courtesy of the hosts. They made quick ground from a seven-tackle set, with Kieran Gill and Billy Walkley combining for a quick tap to go 80 metres downfield. Conor Fitzsimmons barged his way through from close range a couple of tackles later. Kai Morgan converted. 

Despite their poor form coming into this one, Rochdale were giving a good account of themselves and they won their second goal-line dropout of the day on 27 minutes. However, a costly knock-on from Jordan Abdull’s kick gave Sheffield a reprieve and they launched a dangerous attack off the back of it.

Greg Eden had been showing promising signs in attack for Sheffield and he helped them double their lead, perfectly chiming into the line to go over. Morgan added the goal.

Sheffield made it a three-score lead with seven minutes of the half remaining. A cut-out Abdull ball connected with Gill and he had enough to plant the ball down with a number of defenders around him. Morgan converted.

The Eagles came out of the second half blocks firing and a quick-fire double put the game out of Rochdale’s reach. A Reiss Butterworth break set the platform for the first, only stopped by a great tackle from fullback Max Flanagan. Morgan had a walk-in on the next tackle as the Rochdale defence was out of sorts. Sheffield backed it up soon after as attacking linchpin Eden fired a perfect pass to Joe Brown to go over. Morgan made it 30-0 from the tee.

Rochdale did fire back with a try of their own on 53 minutes. Lewis Hatton got over the top of George Griffin to dot down on the last tackle, Flanagan converted.

After winning a penalty on the restart set, Rochdale looked to have some momentum but they couldn’t find touch. That proved costly as Sheffield extended their lead through Eden, who got on the end of a clever Abdull kick. Morgan converted.

The start of the Eagles’ final-quarter purple patch came on 67 minutes as Jack Bussey had more than enough to get to the line and Morgan tagged on the two.

Another Butterworth break, supported by Eden, set Sheffield up once more and it was the fullback who  laid a try on a plate for Walkley. This time Morgan couldn’t convert.

With six minutes to go, Connor Bower brought up 50 points for the hosts as he hit the perfect line to score. Morgan converted, as he did for the final try of the game which came via Walkley after yet another metre-eating Eden break.

GAMESTAR: Greg Eden was in marvellous form for the Eagles, scoring twice and setting up a few more.

GAMEBREAKER: Kai Morgan’s try just a minute into the second half was a body blow for the Hornets.

MATCHFACTS

EAGLES
28 Greg Eden
2 Joe Brown
19 Will Oakes
4 Kieran Gill
5 Billy Walkley
6 Kai Morgan
27 Jordan Abdull
8 Conor Fitzsimmons
9 Corey Johnson
10 Martyn Reilly
3 Josh Hodson
23 Alex Foster
15 George Griffin
Subs (all used)
11 Connor Bower
13 Jack Bussey
14 Reiss Butterworth
17 Harry Bowes

Tries: Fitzsimmons (19), Eden (27, 57), Gill (33), Morgan (42), Brown (47), Bussey (67), Walkley (70, 79), Bower (74)
Goals: Morgan 8/10

HORNETS
1 Max Flanagan
22 TJ Boyd
3 Tom Ashton
4 Junior Sa’u
35 Alex Chippendale
6 Jamie Dallimore
7 Jordan Paga
34 Mark Ioane
19 Luke Waterworth
23 Chris Barratt
12 Ethan Wood
28 Harvey Braddish
13 Jordan Syme
Subs (all used)
9 Ross Whitmore
10 Lewis Hatton
14 George Roby
16 Jordan Andrade

Tries: Hatton (53)
Goals: Flanagan 1/1

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0; 24-0, 30-0, 30-6, 36-6, 42-6, 46-6, 52-6, 56-6

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Eagles: Greg Eden; Hornets: Lewis Hatton

Penalty count: 8-9
Half-time: 18-0
Referee: Adam Williams
Attendance: 547