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Rochdale Hornets 28 Hunslet Hawks 35

Mike Floyd
7/ 5/2008

ABYSMAL is too kind a word to describe Hornets’ performance against Hunslet Hawks on Monday afternoon.

Gone were the commitment, courage and skills showed earlier in the season, replaced by ineptitude and a lack of
co-ordination.

Hunslet out-enthused the home team in every department and fully deserved their first league win of the season.

Hornets must go back to basics, and Bobbie Goulding must instil some confidence in his troops before next week’s match at Keighley.

The hosts’ mistakes kicked in from the off, as spilled ball and penalties gave Hunslet the initiative. And the visitors didn’t need a second invitation as Nathan Larvin crossed out wide. Darren Robinson converted.

Alex Brown responded for the home team, getting on the end of a fluent passing move to touch down near the corner flag.

Hunslet, though, were much livelier and a Robinson penalty was followed by a try from Glen Pennington, who crashed through to score.

Once again the home team hit back, Chris Hough and Martin Ainscough combining to send Paul Alcock over.

Hornets switched off and, inspired by former Hornets Robinson and Phil Hasty, they raced into a 26-10 interval lead, Wayne Freeman and Ben Jones taking advantage of a comatose Hornets defence. Robinson converted both.

In the second half, Hunslet again kept it simple, driving in, executing a good kick and following this up with an
excellent chase. And they were rewarded when Mark Moxon sneaked in from a yard out to score. Robinson made it a six-pointer.

Hornets enjoyed their best spell of the match and tries from Hough and Todd O’Brien, converted by Sneyd, put them within touching distance of the visitors.

And, with 10 minutes to go Jimmy Elston brought Carl Sneyd on to a crash ball and he dived in to score a try, which he converted to put the home team just four points behind.

But a lost ball and a knock on, followed by a Robinson penalty, meant they again had it all to do.

Hornets piled on the pressure and enjoyed territorial advantage, but the ball, like the proverbial bar of soap, continually slipped from their grasp.

With one minute to go, Robinson rubbed salt into Hornets' wounds with a neatly taken drop goal, and the Hunslet fans celebrated a well-deserved victory.

Hornets hung their heads as they left the field, no doubt wondering how a team that defended stoutly against Hull and Oldham in recent weeks could perform so poorly.

The coaching staff need to find out why, sooner rather than later, and put things right.

Match facts

Hornets: Andrews, Brown, Spurr, Sneyd, Campbell, Ainscough, Hough, Hill, Elston, Newton, Alcock, Sinfield, Hughes. Subs: O’Brien, Robinson, Cunliffe, Hughes, Sozi Tries: Brown (10), Alcock (19), Hough (51), O’Brien (54), Sneyd (69); Goals:4.

Hunslet: Bramald, Larvin, Cook, Robinson, Dunbar, Jones, Hasty, Hirst, Robinson, Pennington, Thewliss, Gunney, Chapman Subs: Moxon, Carbutt, Freeman, Blanchard Tries: Larvin (5), Pennington (16), Freeman (24), Jones (37), Moxon (45); Goals: Robinson 5; Penalties: Robinson 2; Drop Goals; Robinson.

Referee: M Kidd (Castleford)

Penalties: 9-10

Half time: 10-26

Attendance: 538