10 hrs

Report: Whitehaven 20-0 Rochdale Hornets

Rochdale Hornets fell to a 20-0 defeat up in Cumbria as a twenty-minute salvo from Whitehaven took the game away from Gary Thornton’s men as they tasted defeat for the second time in the Betfred Championship.

The Hornets made five changes from last weekend’s defeat against Hunslet as Jack Holmes, Lewis Hatton, Luke Waterworth and Ben Metcalfe were all recalled to the starting line-up, with Jack Houghton making his debut from the outset after being brought in on loan from Widnes Vikings during the week.

The Hornets started the better of the two sides on a cold, blustery day on the Cumbrian coast, with a combination of unforced errors and strong defence pinning Haven back in their own 20.

Junior Sa’u had the best chance to break the deadlock, but TJ Boyd’s pass to the former New Zealand international fell just behind him with the line at his mercy.

Having weathered the early storm, the hosts began their four-try blitz in the 18th minute as Ciaran Walker’s deflected kick fell perfectly back into his hands to go over.

Haven went back-to-back as the on-loan Seth Woodend scored down the right. Walker failed to convert either try, but his side still held an 8-0 lead.

Whitehaven continued their try-scoring trend with two in 10 minutes soon after, with Ellison Holgate grabbing the hosts’ third after finishing off a swift line break to increase their advantage to 14 points following Walker’s conversion.

Ethan Bickerdike concluded Haven’s flurry of first-half scoring as he crashed over to leave the scoreline 20 points in the hosts’ favour.

With the second half getting underway on a pitch that was beginning to turn into a bog, particularly down the middle, the Hornets looked for a way back into proceedings through the experienced boot of Dallimore as he forced consecutive goal-line drop-outs, but the hosts dug in under deteriorating conditions to turn the Hornets away.

The game then fell into a scrappy affair which suited Whitehaven down to a tee, as they were more than content to dig in and watch the Hornets try to force through their resolute defensive line.

It was not for the want of trying, however, as Gary Thornton’s side forced three penalties on the spin and looked to threaten the Whitehaven line, although it was beginning to feel like one of those days as errors and conditions played their part in Rochdale again coughing up the ball in key areas.

Whitehaven began to lean on experienced players for game management to see out their first win of the season as the Hornets ran out of steam, after a half of huffing and puffing to no avail as the game ended 20-0.

The loss succumbed the Hornets to a second consecutive league defeat but, as is the relentless nature of the Betfred Championship, next Sunday presents a chance to right the wrongs as Sheffield Eagles visit the Crown Oil Arena.

Rochdale Hornets: Boyd, Holmes, Ashton, Taylor, Sa’u, Dallimore, Hansen, Hatton, Waterworth, Houghton, Kelly, Metcalfe, Syme. Bench: Dayes, Green, Butterworth, Coleman.

Tries:

Goals:

Whitehaven: Walker-Taylor, Eccleston, Woodend, Bickerdike, Todd, Walker, Newbegin, Brennan, Holgate, Thomson, Holliday, Pearce, Kellett. Bench: Smith, McQuistan, Turnbull, Pearce.

Tries: Walker, Woodend, Holgate, Bickerdike

Goals: Walker (2)