Report: Rochdale Hornets 36-32 Whitehaven

Rochdale Hornets put in a superhuman second-half display to come from behind and record a 36-32 win over Whitehaven on the club’s second annual Superhero Day.

Having trailed 18-10 at half-time, a Tom Ashton hat-trick helped Gary Thornton’s side to a third straight league win, having picked up shutout victories against Newcastle Thunder and Goole Vikings in recent weeks.

It took just five minutes for the Hornets to hit the front after a pressure kick was caught and shipped to Ashton, who slid over for his fourth try in as many games. 

Shortly after the midway point of the first half, Whitehaven responded as Josh Blinkhorn finished off a fast break to give the visitors their first points of the afternoon - and the first points the Hornets had conceded in 120 minutes of rugby league. 

Out of nowhere, Ellison Holgate put Whitehaven ahead after intercepting a pass near halfway, touching down under the posts to give former Hornet Dan Abram the easy task of making it 12-6. 

Soon after, outside back Ashton grabbed his second of the afternoon for the home side in the 29th minute, with an almost identical touchdown to his first. 

Haven continued to try and exploit frailties in the Hornets’ defence, with Holgate finding a gap and touching the ball under the sticks to help give them an eight-point lead at the interval.

With work to do, the Hornets came out after the break with a spark, and it took just two minutes for them to score points.

Ashton went over in the corner following a lovely floated kick from Martyn Ridyard to make it 18-14, with the conversion also added to bring the Hornets back to within two. 

Full-back Max Flanagan completed a seven-minute turnaround when he latched onto an inside pass from Ashton to touch down in the far corner.

Momentum certainly continued to go with the Hornets as Ashton helped himself to another try assist, this time with Lewis Else making a run on his shoulder to touch down and make it 26-18 after 52 minutes, with Ridyard then converting once again. 

Haven’s never-say-die attitude then came alive with Connor Halliday stretching over the line from close range just after the hour mark. A missed conversion attempt from Abram meant there were six points between the teams heading into the final quarter. 

Despite the lapse in concentration, the Hornets continued to put pressure on the visitors’ defensive line.

A kick into the in-goal forced a goal-line drop-out which resulted in quick hands to the near touchline to send Dan Nixon over, on the day he celebrated signing a new one-year deal with the club.

Martyn Ridyard all-but-sealed the win in the 70th minute, kicking a penalty goal to make it 36-22 and send the Hornets more than two converted scores clear. 

Two consolation tries at the end of the game from Haven saw a high-scoring game end 36-32 as the Hornets held on for the win. 

Rochdale Hornets: Flanagan, Nixon, Darbyshire, Ashton, Forber, Ridyard, Else, Killan, Whitmore, Nelmes, Kelly-Duffy, D.Simpson, Whittel. Subs: Punchard, Reid, Andrade, E.Simpson.

Tries: Ashton (3), Flanagan, Else, Nixon

Goals: Ridyard (5)

Whitehaven: Abram, Weatherill, Todd, Hartley, Anderson-Moore, Kellett, Bickerdike, Thomson, Blinkhorn, Pearce, McQuistan, Holliday, Holgate. Subs: Chambers, Nixon, Garner, Spencer Tonks.

Tries: Blinkhorn, Holgate (2), Holliday, Abram, Anderson-Moore

Goals: Abram (4)