MATCH PREVIEW: VS DONCASTER RLFC – LEAGUE 1

Rochdale Hornets get their Betfred League 1 season underway against promotion favourites Doncaster RLFC at the Crown Oil Arena.

Hornets will be looking to make it five successive home wins over Doncaster tomorrow, in a contest where we will wear a special Fijian inspired warm-up shirt.

OVERVIEW

Game: Rochdale Hornets v Doncaster RLFC 

Competition: League 1

Date: Sunday 5 March

Kick-off: 13:00

Venue: Crown Oil Arena 

ROCHDALE HORNETS

Hornets will be aiming to build on last weekend's Challenge Cup victory over London Skolars at the Crown Oil Arena, which was the team's first competitive match of 2023.

Gary Thornton's side crossed for seven tries in a 42-4 win, as Dave Hewitt accumulated 18 points - a try and seven goals - in a Man of the Match performance. 

Will Cooke (x2), Joe Purcell, Ben O'Keefe, Lewis Else and Ben Killan, also crossed for tries in a dominant display in front of a vocal home support. 

DONCASTER 

The Dons travel to Greater Manchester in fine form, after winning their first two competitive matches in 2023.

Doncaster edged Hunslet 18-16 on the opening weekend of the League 1 season to earn a hard-fought two points. 

Richard Horne's side joined Hornets in the Third Round of the Challenge Cup last time out, after coming from 18-0 down to beat Oldham 28-26, with Jack Sanderson scoring four tries.   

HEAD TO HEAD

Rochdale have won their last four home meetings with Doncaster, which included a 46-28 victory at the Crown Oil Arena last season. 

The Dons' last away win at Rochdale was a 22-16 Championship win in August 2014. 

Hornets were beaten 52-20 by Doncaster in the League 1 play-off final in September, before the Yorkshire outfit lost 16-10 to Swinton Lions in the promotion play-off final. 

TEAM NEWS

Head coach Thornton has named an unchanged 21-man squad for the visit of Doncaster:

Purcell, Tyrer, Cooke, O'Keefe, Nixon, Else, Hewitt, Braham, Berry, Killan, Brewin, Straugheir, Roden, O'Hanlon, Boardman, Arnold, Badham, Clarke, Ratcliffe, Brannan and Forber. 

TICKETING INFORMATION

Tickets for Sunday's match can be bought online on the Rochdale website here.

Pay on the day is also available, with admission prices as follows: £17 for adults, £8 for students and £5 for under 16s.

Our Fijian inspired warm-up shirt can be purchased here.