Report: Rochdale Hornets 50-6 Goole Vikings

A Luke Forber hat-trick helped Rochdale Hornets to a third successive league win as they overcame league new boys Goole Vikings 50-6 at the Crown Oil Arena.

Having defeated Dewsbury Rams on the road last week and local rivals Swinton Lions on Good Friday, Gary Thorton’s side were looking for another defining performance on home soil. 

It took just four minutes for the Hornets to open the scoring. Off the back of gaining a penalty, Emmerson Whittel made a line break through the middle to score next to the sticks.

Midway through the first half, the Hornets continued to show their attacking credentials as Myles Harrop took advantage of another penalty to find the try line.

Momentum continued to swing in the Hornets’ direction, with Tom Ashton on the receiving end of a string of passes following a scrum on Goole’s 10m line to add his name to the scoresheet. 

With half-time approaching, in-form winger Forber got himself on the scoresheet after a Greg McNally bomb, the Hornets’ number five strolling over with ease to give the Hornets a 24-0 advantage at the break. 

The Vikings came out with the bit between their teeth after half-time and it took them just a minute to get their first points of the game as powerful outside back Manoa Wacokecoke scored. 

However, the Hornets soon got back to their try-scoring antics through Forber, who scored his second of the game. It came after Lewis Else and Harrop combined on the far side, with Forber making a run on the inside to stretch their advantage. 

In identical fashion, half-back Else got himself on the scoresheet, this time going from provider to scorer with a run on the inside to make it 34-6 after 53 minutes.

Five minutes passed, and this time the ball was worked to the near side of the field for Deane Meadows to power his way over, despite the best efforts of the Vikings’ right-edge defence.

Forber made sure of his hat-trick moments later, sprinting down the touchline to make it 44-6.

He grabbed his fourth of the afternoon on the full-time hooter, with Morgan Punchard converting to bring up the half-centry for the Hornets.

Rochdale Hornets: McNally, Nixon, Ashton, Harrop, Forber, Punchard, Else, E.Simpson, O’Donnell, Nelmes, Straugheir, Dayes, Whittel. Subs: Burton, Andrade, Meadows, Newton.

Tries: Whittel, Harrop, Ashton, Forber (4), Else, Meadows

Goals: Punchard (7)

Goole Vikings: Shaul, Halliday, Guzdek, Wacokecoke, Tchamambe, Potter, Dean, Arnold, Hodgson, Roberts, H.Aldous, Ferres, Armstrong. Subs: Phillips, J.Aldous, Holdstock, Jebson.

Tries: Wacokecoke

Goals: Potter