Report: Rochdale Hornets 32-18 Sheffield Eagles

Rochdale Hornets produced a stunning 32-18 victory over Sheffield Eagles to book their place in the quarter-finals of the 1895 Cup, coming from behind to advance.

There was a Hornets debut for Rochdale-born Harry Sheridan while new signing Jay Scriven started from the bench. 

Jordan Syme also returned to the starting line-up after recovering from injury, allowing Ross Whitmore to move back to his more familiar position at hooker.

The tie was a rematch of the Championship clash at the Crown Oil Arena six weeks ago, in which the Eagles ran out convincing winners.

And it was the visitors who scored first after just five minutes as a floated kick to the corner was contested by Dan Nixon and Bill Walkley, the Sheffield winger coming out on top for the game’s first try. 

Walkley had his second just moments later as he produced a solo run from 40m out, before Morgan missed what looked to be a simple kick just to the left of the posts to leave Sheffield 10 points ahead.

Rochdale got themselves on the board just after the quarter-hour mark, a kick from Jamie Dallimore caught by TJ Boyd who gave the ball off to Junior Sa’u, before a quick offload allowed Ethan Wood to finish the job from close range.

The deficit was cut to two points with 15 minutes left in the first half, a sustained period of pressure from the Hornets eventually paying off. And after shifting the ball out to the left-hand side, Dan Nixon stretched over to plant the ball down in the corner.

Rochdale thought they’d taken the lead five minutes later. An error inside the in-goal area from Ryan Millar forced the ball to come loose, with Boyd pouncing on it, but the winger was denied due to a ball steal.

With a two-point gap heading into the break, Rochdale were in the game after an impressive first-half performance.

The task was made slightly trickier though as Walkley completed his hat-trick 10 minutes into the second half after managing to get the ball down in the corner.

The gap was tightened once again just before the hour mark as Dylan Kelly-Duffy sliced through the Sheffield defence to go on a barnstorming run to the line, before Max Flanagan converted for the first time at the third attempt to level the scores.

Gary Thornton’s men took the lead not long after as debutant Sheridan was quickest to react to the loose ball, with Flanagan extending their lead.

All the momentum was with the home side, and Kelly-Duffy had his second 13 minutes from time, rampaging through to score after a slick inside ball from Dan Nixon.

Leading by 12 at that point, the win was secured with 10 minutes to go and Kelly-Duffy was at the heart of things once more, his run setting the wheels in motion once again, with Jack Hansen on hand to finish.

Craig Lingard’s side weren’t out of the contest though and a diving finish from Millar in the corner four minutes from time brought them back to within fourteen points.

This proved to be nothing more than a consolation though, as Rochdale picked up their first win since March in impressive fashion.

The Hornets will host Goole Vikings in the quarter-finals of the competition, but first they must switch focus back to league action as Dewsbury Rams prepare to visit the Crown Oil Arena.

Rochdale Hornets: Flanagan, Boyd, Sheridan, Sa’u, Nixon, Dallimore, Hansen, Barratt, Whitmore, Dayes, Wood, Kelly-Duffy, Syme. Bench: Waterworth, Metcalfe, Scriven, Coleman.

Tries: Wood, Nixon, Kelly-Duffy (2), Sheridan, Hansen

Goals: Flanagan (4)

Sheffield Eagles: Brown, Millar, Gill, Oakes, Walkley, Ellis, Morgan, Matongo, Bowes, Reilly, Foster, Hodson, Griffin. Bench: Johnson, Peachey, Green, Beckett.

Tries: Walkley (3), Millar

Goals: Morgan