And Once Again, How To Not Win As Expected..!
Yes, the brief version of the Rochdale report, which got sent to the local paper, here in South Manchester:
Rochdale Hornets overturned their 12-38 defeat to Swinton Lions at the Summer Bash the preceding weekend to triumph 25-12 at Heywood Road and hop over them in the table in the process.
At times, the Lions were their own worst enemies, missed conversions once again proving the difference at home, while Josh Barlow received both a yellow and red card for different incidents.
Rochdale took a lead they were never to relinquish when Tyler Whittaker skipped away from the cover before sending in Danny Yates by the posts.
It was crunching defence from the Lions that yielded their first try, Hayden Hansen nudging the ball from Declan Hatton’s grasp, Rhodri Lloyd off Gabriel Fell’s pass crossing on the left soon afterwards.
A Swinton try was controversially but correctly ruled out; Hayden Hansen was offside at the play the ball but not involved in play until he caught a tryscoring pass from Mike Butt.
Hornets then pulled away with Gary Middlehurst, Rob Massam and Deon Cross finishing converted tries for a comfortable lead. The Lions fought back with Lloyd claiming his second and Chris Hankinson grabbing a couple plus a conversion but Whittaker finally secured matters with a late drop goal.
Rochdale Hornets overturned their 12-38 defeat to Swinton Lions at the Summer Bash the preceding weekend to triumph 25-12 at Heywood Road and hop over them in the table in the process.
At times, the Lions were their own worst enemies, missed conversions once again proving the difference at home, while Josh Barlow received both a yellow and red card for different incidents.
Rochdale took a lead they were never to relinquish when Tyler Whittaker skipped away from the cover before sending in Danny Yates by the posts.
It was crunching defence from the Lions that yielded their first try, Hayden Hansen nudging the ball from Declan Hatton’s grasp, Rhodri Lloyd off Gabriel Fell’s pass crossing on the left soon afterwards.
A Swinton try was controversially but correctly ruled out; Hayden Hansen was offside at the play the ball but not involved in play until he caught a tryscoring pass from Mike Butt.
Hornets then pulled away with Gary Middlehurst, Rob Massam and Deon Cross finishing converted tries for a comfortable lead. The Lions fought back with Lloyd claiming his second and Chris Hankinson grabbing a couple plus a conversion but Whittaker finally secured matters with a late drop goal.