Browse Sections

• Rochdale FC
• Rochdale Hornets
• Local football
• Local cricket

Razzle-dazzle Reserves turn on style

13/ 5/2008

HORNETS Reserves turned on the style against Dewsbury Rams at Castleton Sports Centre on Thursday with what an Australian commentator recently described as "a razzle dazzle hot potato, run and gun performance".

The home team had far too many guns in their armoury for the Yorkshire team and the visitors were never in the game.

Hornets announced their intentions from the off when, two minutes into the game, Jonathan Muir arrived at full belt to take Sam Butterworth’s pass and crash over the line. Three minutes later, Morgan Starkley spilled Chris Forster’s spiralling up and under and Butterworth was on hand to snatch up the loose ball and score. Forster converted.

Two more tries quickly followed, Butterworth’s long pass giving Andy Gorey space on the outside to touch down, and fullback Kieron Tucker showing excellent pace to slice through to score. Forster converted the second. Dewsbury had hardly touched the ball and went further behind when Hornets skipper Wayne Corcoran powered his way over, Forster converting for a 26-0 lead.

Dewsbury rallied, helped by a sympathetic referee who gave them a series of penalties. They enjoyed their best spell of the match and Ian Jubb was on the end of a flowing move to score in the corner.

It was a mere blip and Simon Svabic, returning from a long term injury, slipped an exquisite pass to Tucker, who scored his second. Forster converted for a 32-4 interval lead.

There was no respite, though, for the visitors as, in the 44th minute, Svabic again set up Tucker and he completed his hat trick. Forster added the extras.

Tries came thick and fast and Wes Lawton took advantage of a sleepy defence to take a quick tap penalty and score. And, after Hornets had kept the ball alive superbly, Gorey showed great strength to force his way over the line.

Svabic, who was enjoying himself, was again prominent, his pass sending Corcoran in for a try, which he then converted. Five minutes later, Corcoran benefited from fine work by Eric Johnson to become the second hat trick hero. Corcoran added the extras.

Centre Craig Highton provided the cherry on the icing on the cake as he finished of an exhilarating move to score the final try. Forster tagged on the two.

This was a tremendous performance from Hornets second string with Corcoran, Tucker and Butterworth catching the eye, and Svabic impressing on his comeback.

HORNETS: Tucker, Lloyd, Highton, Knight, Gorey, Butterworth, Forster, Wild, Lawton, Marsh, Muir, Farrimond, Corcoran, Johnson, Charlesworth, Svabic, Knight. Tries: Corcoran 3, Tucker 3, Gorey 2, Highton, Butterworth, Lawton, Muir. Goals: Forster 6, Corcoran 2.

DEWSBURY RAMS : Colleran, Starkley, Aspinall, Holdsworth, North, Brook, Brodie, Crawley, O’Brien, Green, McMaster, Epati, Glynn, Jubb, Chapman, Wall, Hunt. Tries: Jubb.