Gary Thornton pleased with professional display against Newcastle Thunder

Rochdale Hornets head coach Gary Thornton has praised his players for the level of performance they produced throughout Sunday's 68-4 victory at home to Newcastle Thunder.

The Hornets returned to winning ways and climbed to fifth in the table after running in 12 tries at the Crown Oil Arena.

Ben Blackmore, featuring as part of the club's dual-registration agreement with Bradford Bulls, found himself on the scoresheet while half-back Lewis Else also marked his return from injury with a hat-trick.

Reflecting on the Hornets' display post-match, Thornton was pleased to see a smarter all-round display from his players after the disappointment of their Round 4 loss at Workington Town. 

"I'm delighted with the win, but more so with the performance," he said.

"We've not been great in the last few weeks and I was a bit disappointed up in Workington, but defensively [today] we were solid, our line speed was good and we scored some nice tries off the back of it.

"It was a good 80-minute performance which I have been asking for for a while, and it gets us back on track a little bit."

Else was one of a number of fresh faces who Thornton was able to call upon, with half-back partner Martyn Ridyard also returning from an injury which has kept him out since Round 1. 

There was fresh impetus in the pack too, with Liam Bent making his Hornets debut after signing on a four-week loan from Widnes Vikings ahead of the game. 

"I don't like making excuses, but it has been difficult. Without the spine of the team there, it's been a tough period for us," the Hornets boss added.

"Today you could see the difference that having two half-backs makes to a team - especially two as good as Riddy and Elsey. 

"They were very good today - Riddy with his control of the game and carrying out the game plan, and then Elsey with his explosive pace.

"It gave everybody a lift really. It's good to have them back and get them through the game injury-free."

The Hornets will now look to curb successive defeats on the road when they travel to North Wales Crusaders next Sunday. 

Tickets for the Round 6 clash at Stadiwm CSM can be bought here.