Rochdale Hornets saw their bid to arrest a run of poor form ended emphatically as they were beaten 42-4 by Midlands Hurricanes at Avery Fields.
Defeat extends run to four games
The loss was the Hornets' fourth consecutive reverse in all competitions and leaves manager Gary Thornton facing a key week ahead, with an important away fixture at Sheffield Eagles next on the calendar.
Rochdale had returned from a three-week break and welcomed back Chris Barratt, Mark Ioane and Alex Chippendale to the matchday squad, but were unable to make headway against a Hurricanes side who started strongly.
How the match unfolded
- Midlands opened the scoring inside five minutes through former Hornet half-back Lewis Else.
- Rochdale thought they had levelled when TJ Boyd finished a flowing move, but the try was ruled out for stepping into touch.
- Else crossed again and further tries from Luis Roberts and Jon Luke Kirby put the home side firmly in control before half-time.
- After the break, James Woodburn Hall crossed early and went on to add further scores; Sully Medforth and another Hurricanes player also touched down in the second period.
- Rochdale’s only score came five minutes from the end when Dan Nixon finished in the corner.
There were moments when the Hornets threatened — Jamie Dallimore's kicking forced a goal-line drop out in the first half and George Roby stretched for the line midway through the second — but they could not convert pressure into points.
Scorers
| Team | Try scorers (as reported) |
|---|---|
| Midlands Hurricanes | Lewis Else (2), Luis Roberts, Jon Luke Kirby, Aidan McGowan, James Woodburn Hall (multiple), Sully Medforth |
| Rochdale Hornets | Dan Nixon |
The match also saw a yellow card shown to Ethan Wood following an incident involving a Hurricanes half-back, further disrupting Rochdale's ability to mount a comeback.
What this means for Rochdale
The scale of the defeat and the run of results will raise questions in the Hornets' camp as they prepare for their trip to Sheffield. With play-off hopes still alive mathematically, the next fixture represents a chance to arrest the slide and re-establish momentum.
Local supporters will be watching for selection changes and any tactical adjustments from the coaching staff as the squad looks to respond. The Hornets' immediate priorities will be tighter defence and finding more consistent attacking threat to turn pressure into points.
Coverage continues as the season progresses; next week’s game at Sheffield will be important for the club’s prospects.
