Report: Hunslet 28-18 Rochdale Hornets

Rochdale Hornets fell to a tight defeat at the hands of Hunslet in a closely-fought encounter at the South Leeds Stadium.

In terms of team news, Jordan Paga continued at full-back after impressing in the club’s midweek win at Dewsbury, while new signing Dan Hackney featured once again in the second row.

There were a couple of familiar faces in the Hunslet ranks, with former Hornets Myles Harrop and Mo Agoro taking on their former club. 

It was also a significant day for Kevin Larroyer and one club man Jimmy Watson, who both brought the curtain down on their long playing careers and were welcomed onto the field by a guard of honour from both sets of players.

The scoring was opened just before the 10-minute mark as the Hornets received a penalty deep inside the Hunslet half, with Jamie Dallimore electing to take the two. 

In the set following the restart, Dallimore launched a high kick which was caught by TJ Boyd to finish the job.

Moments later, they were in again, this time thanks to loose forward Jordan Syme who burst through to score from close range.

The home side started to come into the game midway through the first half and were twice held up by strong Hornets defence, before they did finally get themselves on the scoresheet 10 minutes from the break.

Ant Walker crashed over to score, before Billy Jowitt halved the deficit from the kicking tee.

The scores were level moments before half-time as a quick break created the space for Hunslet, with Watson on the end of the pass inside to score.

The deadlock didn’t last long, however, and just after half-time, Eddie Batye forced his way over from acting half to give his side the lead for the first time in the match.

It didn’t take long for Gary Thornton’s side to hit back. After working the ball out to the right-hand side, Matty Unsworth produced a diving finish in the corner under real pressure to cut the Hunslet lead to two points.

Then, not long after, a penalty given away on the Hunslet 10m line gave Jack Hansen the opportunity to level the scores.

If the first part of the first half was dominated by the Hornets, then it was a role reversal in the second 40 minutes as Kyle Trout’s side piled the pressure on the Hornets line, going close on a number of occasions before Harrop managed to touch down to put the home side back in the lead.

Sam Grice then added his name to the scoresheet with a weaving run around the Hornets defence as the Parksiders started to take control of the contest, with Jowitt’s kick extending their lead to 10 points at 28-18.

Gary Thornton’s side didn’t stop fighting though, and in the dying embers of the game went close to reducing the deficit. Dallimore was at the heart of the action once more as he planted a low kick towards the in-goal area and looked to finish what he started, but couldn’t quite get to the ball before it bounced out of play.

Moments later, however, possession was given back to the Hornets on the Hunslet line as they looked to threaten once more, but couldn’t make the most of a six again and squandered possession.

This proved to be the last meaningful action of a hard-fought contest, and as a week in which the Hornets played three games in seven days came to an end, they fell to their first defeat since the home loss to Whitehaven on Superhero Day. 

With one league game of the season remaining against local rivals Oldham next week, they will be looking to end 2026 on a high.

Hunslet: Watson, Agoro, J.Hatton, Harrop, Graham, Gaskell, Jowitt, Baldwinson, Berry, Grice, Gilmore, Clarke, Battye. Bench: Larroyer, O’Hanlon, Walker, Broadbent.

Tries: Walker, Watson, Battye, Harrop, Grice

Goals: Jowitt (4)

Rochdale Hornets: Paga, Chippendale, Unsworth, Sa’u, Boyd, Dallimore, Hansen, Barratt, Whitmore, Ioane, Hackney, Wood, Syme. Bench: Dayes, L.Hatton, Roby, Coleman.

Tries: Boyd, Syme, Unsworth

Goals: Dallimore (2), Hansen