Hornets progress to round four of the Challenge Cup

Sam Freeman stars as Hornets pass Acorn test.

Rochdale Hornets progressed to the fourth round of the Coral Challenge Cup following a professional display over York Acorn at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Sam Freeman, the Hornets full-back, was the star of the show, scoring two and converting every offered kick.

By the half time hooter, Hornets had pulled out a 30-0 lead, thanks to tries from Freeman (2), Jamie Tracey, Lewis Sheridan and Dale Bloomfield.

The second half began with a period of sustained pressure from York, but it was the Hornets who extended their lead, thanks to Ben Calland and Shaun Ainscough, both again converted by Freeman as well as Adam Hesketh put the game well beyond doubt, all with the unswerving boot of Freeman to add the extras.

York though were not to be denied.

They scored the first of their two tries close to the 70^th minute, with Tom Salter hugging the touchline to open their account, before Alex Hardcastle went in under the posts a couple of minutes later, this time the conversion by Astle Chiltern was good.

Rochdale hadn’t finished yet though and Jack Higginson scored to put the final points on a good day for the “home” side.

Hornets Coach Matt Calland: “To be fair, York didn’t make it easy, they came to play and certainly looked like a side capable of causing an upset.

“They had some periods of possession, and we had to be at our best defensively for periods.”

We host British Army in the fourth round of the competition, with more details to be confirmed.