Calland: “We need to be starting games better”

Rochdale Hornets Head Coach, Matt Calland, was left infuriated with his team despite a nine-try victory at West Wales.

Hornets had highlighted the need for a quick start, having been 16-0 down after 20 minutes last time out – a deficit that proved to be too big to overturn.

But Calland was left dismayed at another slow start.

He said: “I’m not very pleased if I’m honest – I thought we got off to an awful start.

“We talked about how important it was to get off to a good start, after the way we started the game last week.

“But we started even worse this week.”

In the early stages of Saturday’s win, Hornets again struggled to complete sets, and maintain their discipline in defence.

“West Wales were enthusiastic, ran really hard, and attacked well.

“Whereas, we were just sloppy and ill-disciplined again - we couldn’t finish a set.

“You can’t afford to do that week in week out; we need to be starting games better.”

However, Calland was enthused by some of the attacking prowess his team showed.

“I thought, in glimpses, we showed some class.

“We scored some really good tries, with Gregg and Rangi linking really well out the back.

“I thought Cobi Green looked really good in the centres; that might be something to have a look at, in the future.”

This is something Hornets will be looking to build on when they host Hunslet this Sunday.

However, Calland is aware that his team will need to be much better if they are to record another victory.

“It’ll be really tough because we know Alan Kilshaw’s a really good coach and he’s recruited a lot of young players.

“They’re going to be really enthusiastic, really well drilled, and we’re going to have to start the game a hell of a lot better than we have in our last two fixtures.”

Despite not quite hitting the standards they’d expect in these first two games, the group remain confident that this can be a campaign to remember.

“I’m sure we’ll improve, it’s early in the season, and I think when we do click we’ll take some beating,” said Calland.