Report: Rochdale Hornets 24-6 Goole Vikings

Rochdale Hornets booked their spot in the semi-finals of the 1895 Cup with a battling 24-6 victory over Goole Vikings.

At a sun-drenched Crown Oil Arena, the Hornets were looking to maintain their 100% record against their East Yorkshire counterparts, with a 35-10 Championship home win in March adding to two victories in League One in 2025 as well as coming out on top in a pre-season meeting between the pair at Victoria Pleasure Grounds.

Following a tight and cagey opening 15 minutes, it was the visitors who came closest to scoring first as Josh Guzdek weaved around the Rochdale defence to set the Vikings up in a great position, but strong goal-line defence from the home side managed to keep them at bay.

Just after the midway point of the half, the home side had their best opportunity of the afternoon as a frantic last-tackle allowed for some quick thinking from Jack Hansen, who booted a kick up and over the Goole defence, with the bounce getting the better of Jaden Dayes.

The deadlock was finally broken after 26 minutes, and it was Rochdale who drew first blood through Hansen, who sliced through a gap in the Vikings defence to finish.

They were almost in again five minutes later, but a forward pass from Tom Ashton to Dan Nixon proved to be the downfall of the move.

In an attritional first 40 minutes, chances for both sides were few and far between as the hosts heading into the break with a slender four-point lead.

Five minutes into the second period, Gary Thornton’s side had their second of the afternoon. It was a moment which sparked the game into life as Lewis Hatton pounced on a loose ball to score next to the posts, before Max Flanagan added the extras.

Just before the hour mark, Rochdale handed the opposition a hammer blow as Jordan Paga broke from deep in his own half to leave the Goole defence behind, with Flanagan on hand to finish the job on his inside before converting from bang in front of the sticks.

Scott Taylor’s side weren’t out of the tie, however, and moments later they were on the scoreboard when Harry Aldous exploited a gap in the Rochdale defence to dive over.

The home side thought they were in again with 15 minutes to go after Junior Sa’u found his way over in the corner following a sharp pass from Ethan Wood, but he was adjudged to have been in touch before grounding the ball.

Sa’u did get his try in the same corner during the Hornets’ next attacking set, before Flanagan narrowly missed a tough kick from wide out.

They had to work for the rewards, but Rochdale’s impressive cup form in 2026 continues as they wait to find out who will stand between them and a first 1895 Cup final appearance.

Sunday’s win also books the Hornets’ spot in a cup semi-final for the first time since October 1991, when they defeated Carlisle 19-6 in the last four of the Lancashire Cup. 

Rochdale Hornets: Flanagan, Nixon, Ashton, Sa’u, Boyd, Paga, Hansen, Dayes, Waterworth, Barratt, Wood, Whitmore. Bench: Hatton, Andrade, Hickey, Scriven.

Tries: Hansen, Hatton, Flanagan, Sa’u, Boyd

Goals: Flanagan (2)

Goole Vikings: Guzdek, Shaw, Harman, Howlett, Barley, Rutland, Miller, Craig, Jubb, Watts, Tomlinson, Aldous, Hodgson. Bench: Holdstock, Bullock, Medlicott, Hodder

Tries: Aldous

Goals: Miller

Post-match reaction