Forber reflects on Hornets' 50-10 pre-season win over Salford Red Devils Reserves

Luke Forber scored twice as Rochdale Hornets finished pre-season with a 50-10 win over Salford Red Devils Reserves in a behind closed doors friendly at Hopwood College.

Forber, who signed a permanent contract with Hornets last week after impressing Gary Thornton as a trialist, was at the double in a nine try win. 

A dominant performance from start to finish saw Hornets, who wore their new Supro Sports 2023 away kit for the first time, lead 22-6 at the break before adding 28-points in the second-half.

Connor Aspey, Tyler Birtle, Connor Ratcliffe, Jack Mallinson, Ethan O’Hanlon and Cian Tyrer (x2) also scored tries for Hornets, while Andy Clarke and Dave Hewitt – who was captain in the absence of Duane Straugheir – added points from the tee.

After the match, we caught up with Forber who told us just how special the week has been.

The back rower said: “It has been a big week for me and I just wanted to continue that in the game.

“I just went out there to play how I normally do and thankfully a few opportunities fell my way which I was able to take.

“It felt good to get over for two tries but even better to get an important win.”

Forber was part of a group of trialists who have been given minutes during pre-season, but he was the first to be offered a permanent contract. 

The 24-year-old, who represented NCL’s Clock Face Miners at amateur level, finished as Hornets' top try scorer in pre-season after scoring in the 18-14 defeat at Oldham.

Hornets have a bye in the First Round of the new League 1 season, which gets underway this weekend, so the squad have an extra week to prepare for their Challenge Cup fixture with London Skolars on 26 February.

Speaking on how the Salford result will benefit the team ahead of the Challenge Cup, Forber said: “It was good chance for the lads to get some more game time and to get a win under our belts.

“We showed good shape and we were able to work on some of the things we have been focusing on in training after two defeats.

“We cannot wait for the first competitive one of the season and hopefully we can take some of the plays from today into the London fixture and get the win to go through.”

A Hornets team consisting of experienced, youthful and trialists was on display at the training ground. Thornton told us after the match that he now has some difficult decisions to make in two weeks time. 

He said: "The lads can be proud of that performance today. 

"We wanted to give players plenty of minutes in pre-season to show us what they can do and to put themselves in the frame for London Skolars.

"They showed up to the role and that has given us some headache selections - but that is what we want."

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