Rochdale Hornets exit Coral Challenge Cup

Match report from today's Coral Challenge Cup clash.

Rochdale Hornets are out of the Coral Challenge Cup following a 70-12 defeat to York City Knights at the Millennium Stadium.

Quinn Ngawati made his debut for the club since arriving on dual-registration from Super League partners Toronto Wolfpack, while Martyn Ridyard missed out due to being Cup tied.

The Knights displayed a strong performance and were led by captain Tim Spears, who made his 400th career appearance.

The Knights opened the scoring on five minutes through Jason Bass, who went on to be the second player to score a hat-trick for the side.

Liam Salter proved a handful down the wing, and Chris Clarkson made it 10-0, with Connor Robinson converting.

It was end to end rugby for the next 10 minutes, but again York struck through Robinson, set up nicely by his half-back partner in Ben Johnston.

Ngawati entered the field on 28 minutes, but there was nothing he could do to stop York's dominant performance.

Full-back Matty Marsh scored his first of four tries on 32 minutes, and Reiss Butterworth scored his first try for the club since arriving on loan from Huddersfield.

Liam Whalley was shown a yellow by the official for a high tackle, and Will Sharp then scored with just two left, and York took a 34-0 lead into the half-time break.

Rochdale scored the first points of the second half, as Declan Sheridan put in a sweet grubber into the goal-line area for brother Lewis Sheridan to give Hornets some short-lived hope on 45 minutes. Sam Freeman converted for 34-6.

Marsh added his second minutes later, before L.Sheridan also bagged a brace on 54 minutes thanks to a powerful run and offload from Jamie Tracey, and L.Sheridan was in the right place to support the forward and score, again converted by Freeman.

However, the last 25 minutes was one to forget. Marsh completed his hat-trick before the hour mark, and Bass scores his second on 67 minutes.

Johnston was next to score, and Bass also completed his hat-trick on 71 minutes.

Robinson added another for 66-12 heading into the last five, and Marsh scored his fourth for a big win for the Knights and a 70-12 scoreline.

Hornets are in action next Sunday in the league against Workington. Keep up to date on fixtures, news and changes due to coronavirus on our official social media channels.