Report: Rochdale Hornets 32-36 Dewsbury Rams

Rochdale Hornets ended their Betfred League 1 season with a disappointing 36-32 defeat at home to Dewsbury Rams.

The fixture, which marked the end of the Hornets’ 2025 season, also saw Gregg McNally, Martyn Ridyard and Duane Straugheir celebrate ahead of kick-off as the trio brought the curtain down on their time in professional rugby league. 

Dewsbury opened the scoring on their very first set, putting pressure on the Hornets line as Jackson Walker barged his way over. 

Liam Copland then broke from deep to score the Rams’ second on the very next play, with Jacob Hookem adding another two points. 

Rochdale hit back on the nine-minute mark thanks to Lewis Else, who made a darting run from dummy-half to power over the line and make it 4-12, with the retiring Ridyard adding the extra two. 

Hookem extended the Rams lead with a penalty kick in the 18th minute. 

In his final professional game, McNally rolled back the years with a line break before passing inside to Else, who was waiting in support to touch down under the sticks.

McNally bagged himself another try assist with 29 minutes gone, finding the in-form Luke Forber to dive over and make it 16-14.

Soon after, and after what appeared to be a high tackle on Forber, the Hornets were reduced to 11 men. With Emmerson Whittel already in the sin-bin for a tip tackle, Dylan Kelly-Duffy was also shown a yellow for running in as a fracas erupted following the tackle on Forber just before half-time. 

Ridyard put the Hornets further in front with a two-pointer to make it 18-14 at the end of the first half. 

Once again, the visitors started the second period like they did the first, with Jamie Gill strolling through a gap and Craig McShane pouncing on a loose ball soon after to make it 24-18 in the Rams’ favour.  

Just before the hour mark, they found their way through the Hornets defence again thanks to Gill, who grabbed his second to put his side 12 points clear. 

With 20 minutes to go, Tom Ashton powered his way over in the far corner, Ridyard’s conversion making it 30-24. 

Veteran full-back McNally then had the perfect sign-off to his career in the 70th minute, diving over under the sticks to make it 30-28, with long-time friend and team-mate Ridyard levelling the game at 30-30.

The Hornets were then awarded a penalty in front of the posts, with Ridyard kicking the two to make it 32-30 with seven minutes to go. 

However, with five minutes still on the clock, Dan Coates powered his way over to win the game for the Rams and ensure they ended the season in fourth spot in the Betfred League 1 standings, two places above the Hornets. 

Rochdale Hornets: McNally, Nixon, D.Simpson, Ashton, Forber, Ridyard, Else, Nelmes, Whitmore, Killan, Forster, Kelly-Duffy, Whittel. Subs: Punchard, E.Simpson, Andrade, Matvejev.

Tries: Else (2), Forber, Ashton, McNally

Goals: Ridyard (6)

Dewsbury Rams: C.McShane, L.Walker, Jordan, Senior, Copland, Coates, Hookem, J.Walker, J.McShane, Neagle, Summers, K.Tomlinson, D.Tomlinson. Subs: Sykes, Gill, Collinson, Roberts. 

Tries: J.Walker, Copland, Gill (2), C.McShane, Coates

Goals: Hookem (3), Sykes (3)