Report: Whitehaven 24-20 Rochdale Hornets

Rochdale Hornets made the long journey up to Cumbria to face Whitehaven on Sunday, with Gary Thornton’s side coming out on the wrong side of a narrow 24-20 scoreline as they suffered their first league defeat of the season.

Thornton made three changes to the side that comprehensively beat Cornwall last time out, with Ben Will, Toby Brannan and Emmerson Whittel coming back into the starting line-up.

The game began in scrappy fashion under the Cumbrian sunshine, with both sides failing to complete a set within the opening five minutes as several knock-ons affected the rhythm of the game.

The match sprung into life, however, in the 10th minute as Jake Pearce crashed over from close range for the hosts after the Hornets had defended multiple tackles on their own line. 

Gary Thornton’s Hornets looked to get themselves back into the game, and many from a Rochdale perspective thought they had done so with 17 minutes gone.

A lovely Lewis Else grubber found Gregg McNally who touched down, but the try was called back for an apparent offside.

To make matters worse for the Hornets, Whitehaven struck again soon after, Luke Collins darting over from dummy-half to score. 

The impressive Collins added to his tally after 26 minutes. Another scoot over from the ruck gave Whitehaven a commanding advantage to punish the slow Hornets start, with the boot of Cameron Brown making it 16-0.

Rochdale needed to get back into the game, and they did so quickly. Duane Straugheir showcased why he is Rochdale captain by leading from the front with a great spinning effort over in the left corner. 

With half-time looming, the Hornets grabbed another try back right on the hooter. 

Myles Harrop was released down the left thanks to quick hands from McNally and Flanagan and he made no mistake in diving over. Flanagan missed the tough touchline conversion, leaving the Hornets eight points behind at the break.

Despite a fast start to the second half, the hosts seized the advantage after 47 minutes. Captain Straugheir was sent to the sin-bin for a ruck infringement and Brown did not hesitate in taking the two points on offer for his Whitehaven side, making it 18-8.

With Straugheir back on the field, the Hornets made the numerical parity count instantly. Max Flanagan picked up a loose ball to stroll over down the left then converted his own try to bring the visitors back to within four points.

Having just got themselves back into the game, the Hornets made some unforgivable errors as Whitehaven scored straight from kick-off. 

After a real hash was made of dealing with the kick-off, a simple grubber through was not dealt with, leading to Ellison Holgate scoring for the hosts on the hour mark. 

In their haste to mount a late fightback, the Hornets then had another try chalked off as Flanagan raced towards the line, with the referee deciding there had been an obstruction in the build-up.

But with six minutes to go, the Hornets did get the try they needed to set up a grandstand finish. Gregg McNally finished off a fine break against his former employers and hometown club, bringing the score to 24-20.

With the hooter sounding, Rochdale gave it one last effort with a high kick being claimed in the corner by Dan Nixon, who was adamant that he had scored dramatically, but the referee claimed he had knocked on and Whitehaven held on for the win.

Sunday’s narrow defeat on the road saw the Hornets suffer their first loss of the league campaign, which continues in two weeks’ time as Workington Town visit the Crown Oil Arena.

Rochdale Hornets: McNally, Nixon, Will, Harrop, Forber, Flanagan, Else, Brannan, Punchard, Nelmes, Meadows, Straugheir, Whittel. Subs: Burton, Dayes, Andrade, Killan

Tries: Straugheir, Harrop, Flanagan, McNally

Goals: Flanagan 2/4

Whitehaven: Burns, Weatherill, Bickerdike, Taylor, Todd, Brown, Newbegin, Thomson, Collins, Pearce, Holliday, McQuistan, Kellett. Interchanges: Holgate, Turnbull, Brennan, Mckinney

Tries: Pearce, Collins (2), Holgate

Goals: Brown 4/5

Photo credit: David Malcolm Walker