Report: Barrow Raiders 24-14 Rochdale Hornets

Rochdale Hornets put in a much-improved display on the road but fell to a narrow 24-14 defeat to Barrow Raiders in Round 22 of the Betfred Championship.

Following five straight defeats in all competitions, the Hornets needed to find a response to their recent woes and came mightily close to pulling off a surprise result, against a Barrow side fighting for a top-four finish. 

Ultimately, two late tries from prop forward Tom Walker saw the Raiders turn the game around in the final 20 minutes as they returned to winning ways on home soil. 

The major piece of team news for the Hornets saw Matty Unsworth make his first appearance since Round 1 against Swinton, when he suffered a serious ankle injury which required surgery. 

Head coach Gary Thornton was also able to welcome back Dan Nixon, Jack Hansen and Jaden Dayes, all of whom missed the defeat to Sheffield Eagles a week earlier. 

The home side opened the scoring before the midway point of the first half when a cutout pass from half-back Ellis Archer sent the in-form Ryan King over to score down the left. 

But the Hornets’ response was a good one.

First, Alex Chippendale was the recipient of slick hands left to score his first professional try, before Max Flanagan built on the good work of Chris Barratt a tackle earlier and darted through a gap in the defensive line to make it 10-4 heading into the break. 

However, Barrow scored soon after half-time, capitalising on a high kick which wasn’t fielded by two Hornets players as Luke Broadbent just managed to ground the ball before running out of room in the in-goal area. 

A penalty goal from Archer made it 12-10 in Barrow’s favour, but the game swung again soon after when George Roby powered his way over from close range to make it 14-12. 

Ultimately though, the day belonged to the Raiders, and it was imposing forward Walker who came up with the telling contribution. 

A surging effort, with three Hornets hanging onto him, saw the Raiders re-take the lead, then a smart pass left from Alex Bishop sent him over for the decisive try in the closing minutes.

Despite falling to defeat, there are plenty of positives for the Hornets to build on as they look forward to a long-awaited return home to face Whitehaven next Sunday, in our annual Superhero Day fixture.

Barrow Raiders: Cresswell, Bulman, Broadbent, Toal, Knott, Bishop, Archer, Gillam, Wood, T.Walker, King, Teare, Richards. Bench: Bullock, Stack, Dutton, Makin. 

Tries: King, Broadbent, T.Walker (2)

Goals: Archer (4)

Rochdale Hornets: Flanagan, Chippendale, Unsworth, Sa’u, Nixon, Dallimore, Hansen, Ioane, Waterworth, Barratt, Wood, Braddish, Syme. Bench: Dates, Whitmore, Hatton, Roby.

Tries: Chippendale, Flanagan, Roby

Goals: Flanagan

Post-match reaction

Photo credit: Steve Miller