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Rochdale Hornets 50 York Acorn 8

Mike Floyd
11/ 3/2008

HORNETS’ coach Bobbie Goulding hit the nail on the head when he said Sunday’s third round Carnegie Challenge Cup tie at Spotland against York Acorn was all about the amateur side.

The visitors didn’t disappoint, with a gutsy display throughout the 80 minutes, including a spectacular try from Joe Budd early in the second half. They also blew two or three good try-scoring opportunities, and with them the chance to put the home team under pressure.

Hornets, despite scoring nine tries, were a shadow of the team which had beaten Oldham Roughyeds on Wednesday night, as they gave a stop-start performance. Goulding will be concerned about the lack of consistency among his players – they completed only four of 17 sets in the first half – plus their tendency to give away silly penalties when they have the opposition under the cosh.

Fortunately, stand-off Martin Ainscough had his eye on the ball, with a sparkling hat-trick, while the industrious Paul Alcock kept the pack moving forward. Fullback Mark Roughneen marked his debut with seven goals and coped with everything thrown at him.

The hosts started slowly, and York might have had a try in the first minute when Thomas Hill charged down a kick on the Hornets’ 22 only to be hauled down just short of the line.

Five minutes later, Darren Callaghan’s well-timed pass saw Michael Embleton slice through Hornets’ backline and head for the line. He drew Roughneen, but his pass to unmarked winger Stephen Mackley went straight into touch.

It was the wake-up call Hornets needed and two minutes later a flowing move was finished off by Alex Brown with a try in the right-hand corner.

Three minutes later a superb break by Ian Sinfield took him clear and Jimmy Elston was on his shoulder to take the pass and score. Roughneen added the extras.

Sinfield was then on hand to take a pass from Elston and power over the line.

Mackley knocked over a penalty for York before Elston broke from acting half back close to the line. He launched a ‘Hail Mary’ pass over his shoulder and Ainscough plucked the ball from the air to score. Roughneen’s conversion gave Hornets a 22-2 interval lead.

Hornets conceded two penalties in the first two minutes of the second half to give York an attacking platform.

Callaghan took full advantage as he sent Embleton through a gap. He slipped the ball to Andy Gargan who bamboozled Roughneen before giving Budd a stroll to the line. Mackley converted.

Five minutes later Callaghan tried the same move, but an alert Ainscough intercepted and sprinted in for a try. Roughneen tagged on the two.

The hosts enjoyed their best spell of the match as David Best’s tremendous offload sent Sam Butterworth scampering over the line, then Ainscough found space on the short side to send Alcock in for a well deserved try. Roughneen converted one of them.

The game then entered a feisty phase as players seemed more intent on fighting than rugby and Best was sin-binned by French referee David Segura. York’s Danny Caldwell was lucky not to have followed him two minutes later for a similar offence. He got away with a mild ticking off.

Things finally calmed down, and Mark Brocklehurst chased down Ainscough’s astute kick to the corner to touch down. Roughneen slotted over a splendid touchline conversion.

It was perhaps fitting the final highlight of the match was provided by its outstanding player. A York attack broke down close to the Hornets’ line and Ainscough showed the visitors’ defence a clean pair of heels to complete his hat-trick. Roughneen’s kick brought up the half century.