Play Them On A Neutral Venue, Win, Play Them At Home, Lose..!
Swinton beat Rochdale on TV at Blackpool the week before, so another game against the same opposition just a week later, easy right?!
Wrong.
Another home defeat, gah!
Swinton Lions 18 Rochdale Hornets 25 by Jeff Tyldesley
For the second consecutive season, this Championship local derby produced a red card and no shortage of feistiness as Rochdale overturned their twenty six point defeat at the Summer Bash to win at Heywood Road against the Lions and hop over them in the table in the process.
At times, the Lions were their own worst enemies, again struggling to add conversions at home plus receiving a yellow and red card, the latter for the second most ill-advised verbal outburst within the Rugby League world this weekend (after Joel Tomkins.)
In the wake of their televised loss last weekend, Rochdale were clearly well up for this encounter, some fine muscular defence from centres Chris Hankinson and George Tyson defused two separate early Hornets attacks through forcing knock ons.
At the other end, Hayden Hansen was correctly adjudged pinned on his back, after surging from dummy half towards the Rochdale line.
The lead was Rochdale’s shortly afterwards, Ben Austin made a superb tackle to stop Joe Taira, then Tyler Whittaker threw a forward pass. The ball was swiftly reclaimed and the Stand Off made up for this by skipping away and sending in Danny Yates close to the posts.
It was more crunching defence from the Lions that yielded their first try, Hayden Hansen nudging the ball from Declan Hatton’s grasp with Rhodri Lloyd off Gabriel Fell’s pass crossing on the left soon afterwards.
Hornets extended their lead to eight points when Gary Middlehurst twisted out of three tacklers to ground it, all off a speedy pass from Ben Moores.
A Swinton try was then controversially but correctly ruled out; Hayden Hansen was offside at the play the ball but not involved in play, referee Tom Grant was making him aware as he ran but when Mike Butt broke away, he caught a pass in support, rendering himself offside and the try null and void.
Whittaker was held up on his back for Rochdale before the visitors’ third score, Rob Massam showing considerable leg strength to stay in play with three Lions trying to force him out,
Whittaker continued his immaculate day for kicking from the sideline.
The Lions then had Barlow sin binned for fighting but received the original penalty which caused the brawl. Swinton going close but Tyson was pushed out at the corner flag.
There were more fisticuffs in the build up to half time, but no further cards were issued. Rochdale came closest to adding to the scoring but Swinton managed to get bodies between the ground and the ball in Declan Kay’s hands.
It was a bitty and edgy start to the second half, from the moment Rochdale fluffed the kick off, getting caught offside and Swinton in response knocked on early in the tackle count.
Hornets grabbed a crucial buffer when Yates and Kay combined, allowing Deon Cross time and space to finish out wide, another conversion meant that Swinton now needed four more scores to win.
As has been often the case this season, Swinton played their finest stuff with their backs rammed against the wall, the ball whooshing through six pairs of hands for Hankinson to scythe his way over. Jack Hansen briefly taking over the kicking but with no more luck.
Given his earlier success rate, it was surprising when Whittaker missed a penalty attempt from thirty yards out for Rochdale, it didn’t even go dead, with Andy Thornley driving it out.
Despite Andy Bracek’s brave effort, which ended in being held up as well, Hornets maintained their distance between them and the Lions till near the end.
Then a smart kick from Hankinson from the scrum over the top saw Tyson outpace Richard Lepori and collect the ball ten yards out. Lloyd burrowing his way over on the next play.
The conversion this time rebounded off the post, and despite there only being four tries to three to Rochdale overall, at that time, they held a twelve point advantage.
After ball stealing was given against Whittaker, he appeared to throw the ball in the direction of the touch judge, this didn’t yield a card but Barlow did soon afterwards for some meaty and explicit words to the same official.
Even with twelve men, Swinton refused to be put down so Whittaker dropped a goal to give Rochdale a lead of a Baker’s Dozen instead.
Had the game gone on much longer, Hornets might have needed all those points, as Hankinson’s astute grubber caused chaos and he followed his own kick up to touch down and convert the Lions’ fourth try but it was too little too late for Swinton.
SWINTON LIONS
1. Gabriel Fell 6
5. Mike Butt 7
3. Chris Hankinson 8
11. Rhodri Lloyd 8
4. George Tyson 7
6. Brad Billsborough 5
7. Jack Hansen 6
8. Andy Bracek 7
14, Hayden Hansen 7
15. Ben Austin 7
10. Andy Thornley 7
33. Liam Paisley 7
NN. Gabriel Hamlin 7
Subs:
13. Josh Barlow 6
17. Kyle Shelford 7
21. Chris Worrall 6
35. Tommy Gallagher 6
Tries: Lloyd 19, 73, Hankinson 54, 79, Goals: Hankinson 1/3, J Hansen 0/1.
ROCHDALE HORNETS
2. Declan Kay 6
21. Richard Lepori 6
26. Jack Fox 6
31. Deon Cross 7
5. Rob Massam 8
14. Tyler Whittaker 8
7. Danny Yates 7
8. Joe Taira 8
9. Ben Moores 7
23. Gary Middlehurst 7
12. Toby Adamson 6
19. Lee Mitchell 7
11. David Allen 6
Subs:
17. Jonah Cunningham 7
15. Lewis Hatton 6
16. Pat Moran NU
13. Luke Adamson 8
Tries: Yates 16, Middlehurst 21, Massam 30, Cross 46. Goals: Whittaker 4/5. Drop Goal: Whittaker 77.
Ref Rating: Tom Grant 75/100
Half Time: 4-18
Penalties: 7-11
Sin Bins: Barlow (33 - fighting)
Sent Off: Barlow (75 - foul and abusive language)
Weather: Sunny and hot
Attendance: 631
Man of the Match: Tyler Whittaker (Rochdale)
Match Rating: 3/5
Wrong.
Another home defeat, gah!
Swinton Lions 18 Rochdale Hornets 25 by Jeff Tyldesley
For the second consecutive season, this Championship local derby produced a red card and no shortage of feistiness as Rochdale overturned their twenty six point defeat at the Summer Bash to win at Heywood Road against the Lions and hop over them in the table in the process.
At times, the Lions were their own worst enemies, again struggling to add conversions at home plus receiving a yellow and red card, the latter for the second most ill-advised verbal outburst within the Rugby League world this weekend (after Joel Tomkins.)
In the wake of their televised loss last weekend, Rochdale were clearly well up for this encounter, some fine muscular defence from centres Chris Hankinson and George Tyson defused two separate early Hornets attacks through forcing knock ons.
At the other end, Hayden Hansen was correctly adjudged pinned on his back, after surging from dummy half towards the Rochdale line.
The lead was Rochdale’s shortly afterwards, Ben Austin made a superb tackle to stop Joe Taira, then Tyler Whittaker threw a forward pass. The ball was swiftly reclaimed and the Stand Off made up for this by skipping away and sending in Danny Yates close to the posts.
It was more crunching defence from the Lions that yielded their first try, Hayden Hansen nudging the ball from Declan Hatton’s grasp with Rhodri Lloyd off Gabriel Fell’s pass crossing on the left soon afterwards.
Hornets extended their lead to eight points when Gary Middlehurst twisted out of three tacklers to ground it, all off a speedy pass from Ben Moores.
A Swinton try was then controversially but correctly ruled out; Hayden Hansen was offside at the play the ball but not involved in play, referee Tom Grant was making him aware as he ran but when Mike Butt broke away, he caught a pass in support, rendering himself offside and the try null and void.
Whittaker was held up on his back for Rochdale before the visitors’ third score, Rob Massam showing considerable leg strength to stay in play with three Lions trying to force him out,
Whittaker continued his immaculate day for kicking from the sideline.
The Lions then had Barlow sin binned for fighting but received the original penalty which caused the brawl. Swinton going close but Tyson was pushed out at the corner flag.
There were more fisticuffs in the build up to half time, but no further cards were issued. Rochdale came closest to adding to the scoring but Swinton managed to get bodies between the ground and the ball in Declan Kay’s hands.
It was a bitty and edgy start to the second half, from the moment Rochdale fluffed the kick off, getting caught offside and Swinton in response knocked on early in the tackle count.
Hornets grabbed a crucial buffer when Yates and Kay combined, allowing Deon Cross time and space to finish out wide, another conversion meant that Swinton now needed four more scores to win.
As has been often the case this season, Swinton played their finest stuff with their backs rammed against the wall, the ball whooshing through six pairs of hands for Hankinson to scythe his way over. Jack Hansen briefly taking over the kicking but with no more luck.
Given his earlier success rate, it was surprising when Whittaker missed a penalty attempt from thirty yards out for Rochdale, it didn’t even go dead, with Andy Thornley driving it out.
Despite Andy Bracek’s brave effort, which ended in being held up as well, Hornets maintained their distance between them and the Lions till near the end.
Then a smart kick from Hankinson from the scrum over the top saw Tyson outpace Richard Lepori and collect the ball ten yards out. Lloyd burrowing his way over on the next play.
The conversion this time rebounded off the post, and despite there only being four tries to three to Rochdale overall, at that time, they held a twelve point advantage.
After ball stealing was given against Whittaker, he appeared to throw the ball in the direction of the touch judge, this didn’t yield a card but Barlow did soon afterwards for some meaty and explicit words to the same official.
Even with twelve men, Swinton refused to be put down so Whittaker dropped a goal to give Rochdale a lead of a Baker’s Dozen instead.
Had the game gone on much longer, Hornets might have needed all those points, as Hankinson’s astute grubber caused chaos and he followed his own kick up to touch down and convert the Lions’ fourth try but it was too little too late for Swinton.
SWINTON LIONS
1. Gabriel Fell 6
5. Mike Butt 7
3. Chris Hankinson 8
11. Rhodri Lloyd 8
4. George Tyson 7
6. Brad Billsborough 5
7. Jack Hansen 6
8. Andy Bracek 7
14, Hayden Hansen 7
15. Ben Austin 7
10. Andy Thornley 7
33. Liam Paisley 7
NN. Gabriel Hamlin 7
Subs:
13. Josh Barlow 6
17. Kyle Shelford 7
21. Chris Worrall 6
35. Tommy Gallagher 6
Tries: Lloyd 19, 73, Hankinson 54, 79, Goals: Hankinson 1/3, J Hansen 0/1.
ROCHDALE HORNETS
2. Declan Kay 6
21. Richard Lepori 6
26. Jack Fox 6
31. Deon Cross 7
5. Rob Massam 8
14. Tyler Whittaker 8
7. Danny Yates 7
8. Joe Taira 8
9. Ben Moores 7
23. Gary Middlehurst 7
12. Toby Adamson 6
19. Lee Mitchell 7
11. David Allen 6
Subs:
17. Jonah Cunningham 7
15. Lewis Hatton 6
16. Pat Moran NU
13. Luke Adamson 8
Tries: Yates 16, Middlehurst 21, Massam 30, Cross 46. Goals: Whittaker 4/5. Drop Goal: Whittaker 77.
Ref Rating: Tom Grant 75/100
Half Time: 4-18
Penalties: 7-11
Sin Bins: Barlow (33 - fighting)
Sent Off: Barlow (75 - foul and abusive language)
Weather: Sunny and hot
Attendance: 631
Man of the Match: Tyler Whittaker (Rochdale)
Match Rating: 3/5