Report: Rochdale Hornets 0-83 Wigan Warriors

World Club Champions Wigan Warriors proved too strong for Rochdale Hornets, running out 83-0 winners in the third round of the Betfred Challenge Cup.

One week out from their Betfred Super League opener, the Warriors ran in a total of 15 tries at the Crown Oil Arena, in front of a healthy crowd of 4,248 - the Hornets' highest home attendance since 1998. 

Zach Eckersley, Jai Field and Jake Wardle all went over for hat-tricks, on an afternoon which saw Gary Thornton's side give a good account of themselves without managing to post points against the Super League heavyweights. 

Wigan drew first blood inside the opening five minutes, spreading the ball wide towards the right before a looping cut-out pass sent Eckerseley over unopposed in the corner.

Eckersley had his second soon after, a deft Bevan French grubber towards the corner giving him an easy finish.

Wigan chanced their arm from deep before the midway stage of the half, and a kick early in the tackle count caught the Hornets out at the back as French picked up a loose, bouncing ball to go over near the posts. 

French went from scorer to provider to send full-back Jai Field in for his first of the afternoon soon after, before taking on the scoring duties once again after some good play down Wigan's right edge. 

Jack Farrimond was next to touch down after a quick break downfield, making it 34-0 after Adam Keighran's conversion.

His try came shortly after Rochdale's best moment of the half, which saw a teasing Jamie Dallimore kick to the corner find TJ Boyd, who rose highest in the air but fumbled it with the try line beckoning.

From the next kick-off after Farrimond's try, Wigan went the length of the field on tackle one after breaking down the left, Field exchanging passes with Wardle before stretching his legs and diving over in the corner. 

There was even time for French to extend Wigan's lead to 39 before half-time, courtesy of a drop-goal. 

It didn't take long for Wigan to pick up where they left off after half-time as Oliver Partington was on the shoulder of Brad O'Neill, taking his smart offload close to the line to score.

Next, Eckersley went over for his hat-trick as Field's well-weighted grubber towards the corner gave him a simple finish. 

Wardle dummied his way to the line soon after to bring up the 50-point mark, and he offered his support to Junior Nsemba to cross for his second of the afternoon not long after. 

Patrick Mago powered his way over to the right of the posts to score Wigan's 12th try of the afternoon, with the 21-time Challenge Cup winners coming on strongly as the game entered the final quarter. 

Field took the scoreline past 70 by completing his hat-trick, then a superb French cut-out pass sent Eckersley over in the corner for his fourth of the afternoon. 

Good hands down the left saw Wigan notch their 15th and final try of the match, with Wardle finishing the move to bring up a treble of his own. 

After Sunday's brave effort, the Hornets will need to reset and prepare to go again next weekend as Keighley Cougars visit the Crown Oil Arena in Round 3 of the Betfred Championship. 

Rochdale Hornets: Flanagan, Boyd, Ashton, Sa'u, Nixon, Dallimore, Hickey, Reid, Whitmore, Kelly-Duffy, Wood, Metcalfe, Syme. Bench: Hatton, Lynch, Waterworth, Coleman. 

Tries:

Goals: 

Wigan Warriors: Field, Eckersley, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall, French, Farrimond, Eseh, O'Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Farrell, Ellis. Bench: Havard, Mago, Partington, Forber. 

Tries: Eckersley (4), French (2), Field (3), Farrimond, Partington, Wardle (3), Mago

Goals: Keighran (11)

Drop-goals: French

Post-match reaction