Report: Rochdale Hornets 35-10 Goole Vikings

Rochdale returned to winning ways with an impressive 35-10 win over Goole Vikings in Round 8 of the Betfred Championship.

Five different try-scorers got in on the act for the home side, during a game which also featured Hornets debuts for hooker George Roby and prop forward Chris Barratt following their respective moves to the club earlier in the week.

Meanwhile, Goole half-back Jack Miller faced up to his former club, having enjoyed a spell on loan at the Crown Oil Arena last season.

On a day where the weather didn’t lend itself to rugby league, the opening stages were end to end, with neither side managing to find their way to the line. 

But the deadlock was broken after 10 minutes thanks to TJ Boyd, who received the ball just inside the Goole half and raced away to score his 10th try in as many appearances for the club.

Just before the quarter-hour mark, the home side doubled their advantage when Jamie Dallimore pounced on the end of a loose ball following a chip to the corner, with Max Flanagan again adding the extras.

Moments later, Dallimore’s half-back partner Jack Hansen produced a spectacular solo effort, going the length of the field after a Goole knock-on, with momentum managing to take him over the line after a determined chase from another former on-loan Hornet, Mackenzie Harman.

The visitors got themselves on the scoresheet with just over 15 minutes to go in the first half as Flanagan lost the ball in mid-air, with Josh Guzdek capitalising to score and Miller adding the extras.

They were in again not long after, this time through Tom Halliday as he barged his way down the wing to get his team back to within a converted try.

Gary Thornton’s side wasted no time at the start of the second half, and the influential Dallimore was once again present in his side’s next try. His high kick was caught by a rising Dan Nixon, who handed the ball off to Lewis Hatton to finish the job. 

Flanagan added two more points to his total and re-opened a 12-point gap between the teams as he made it 22-10.

Minutes later, Hansen produced an inch-perfect 40/20 to put the home side in a great position and from the resulting set, Dallimore opted to keep the scoreboard ticking by slotting over a drop-goal from close range.

The home side started to take control of the game from here, and while the visitors did continue to find their way into the Rochdale half, the hosts’ defence stood firm and ensured their 13 point advantage would remain.

Instead, it was Rochdale who came knocking on the door once more, with Ben Metcalfe and Tom Ashton both going close in consecutive tackles, before the points were secured nine minutes from time after Flanagan leapt over in the corner following a quick offload from Junior Sa’u. 

Flanagan had his second two minutes from time as he sliced through the Goole defence to finish beneath the uprights.

It proved to be a first win since February for the Hornets, and the ideal preparation for a trip to Bower Fold to face Oldham on Good Friday.

Rochdale Hornets: Flanagan, Nixon, Ashton, Sa’u, Boyd, Dallimore, Hansen, Dayes, Roby, Barratt, Metcalfe, Wood, Whitmore. Bench: Paga, Hatton, Kelly-Duffy, Waterworth.

Tries: Boyd, Dallimore, Hansen, Hatton, Flanagan (2)

Goals: Flanagan (5)

Drop-goals: Dallimore

Goole Vikings: Guzdek, Shaw, Howlett, Barley, Halliday, Harman, Miller, Craig, Jubb, Medlicott, Ferres, Savelio, Watts. Bench: Tomlinson, Staveley, Aldous, Tuohey.

Tries: Guzdek, Halliday

Goals: Miller

Post-match reaction