Report: Oldham 58-6 Rochdale Hornets

Rochdale Hornets were knocked out of the 1895 Cup on Sunday afternoon following a 58-6 defeat to Oldham at Boundary Park.

Without either of their regular starting halves, and Max Flanagan pulling out hours before kick-off due to illness, the Hornets endured a difficult afternoon against a Betfred Championship outfit who many feel will be one of the top sides this season.

The hosts started the tie on the front foot and got the try their early endeavours deserved after two minutes. Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e attacked the line, found a gap in the stretched Hornets defence and dived over.

With the Hornets struggling to gain any territorial advantage in the game, it took a moment of brilliance to put them ahead. Morgan Punchard produced a beautifully-weighted kick to the corner where Dan Nixon claimed over his head and reached out to score. Lewis Hollidge converted, putting Gary Thornton’s side 6-4 ahead before the end of the opening quarter.

The Hornets, growing in confidence after Nixon’s try, managed to keep Oldham’s impressive attack at bay until the outlook of the half changed after 26 minutes. Joe Taira was sent to the sin-bin for a late shot on Riley Dean, which gave Oldham the chance they needed to get themselves back in front.

The hosts struck twice in quick succession before the break. Jumah Sambou was the first to cross after 31 minutes, evading the Rochdale defence to cross, before Iain Thornley crashed onto a short ball to add to their advantage four minutes later, two Kieran Dixon conversions making it 16-6 at the break.

The second half began in nightmare fashion for the Hornets, with Oldham adding three tries in the first 10 minutes to take the game out of reach. 

Owen Farnworth crashed over after mere seconds of the restart, and this was closely followed by a dancing Danny Craven effort and a Ted Chapelhow walk-in.

Struggling to get out of their own half, the Hornets defence had no response to the speed and guile of the Oldham attack as Craven helped himself to another after 56 minutes.

The hosts quickly began to overwhelm their opposition, and they bagged two tries in two minutes soon after Craven’s score. Pat Moran received an offload to crash over, then straight from the restart, the impressive Dixon galloped over down the left edge and converted his own try to make it 52-6.

Showing no mercy, the home side grabbed another with four minutes to go as Thornley scored his second of the afternoon, dotting the ball down on the right touchline.

The final action of the tie saw some unsavoury scenes as both sides were involved in a melee in back-play, with referee James Vella placing the action on report as the game drew to a close.

It proved to be a tough day at the office for the Hornets, who will hope to bounce back next weekend against Cornwall in Round 2 of the Betfred League 1 season. 

Rochdale Hornets: McNally, Nixon, Juma, Will, Forber, Punchard, Hollidge, Brannan, Burton, Nelmes, Straugheir, Meadows, Whittel. Subs: Taira, Killan, Andrade, Dayes.

Tries: Nixon

Goals: Hollidge 1/1

Oldham: Laulu-Togaga’e, Johnson, Thornley, Sambou, Dixon, Craven, Dean, Dudson, Wildie, Baxter, Ashurst, Forster, Milner. Subs: Farnworth, Moran, Chapelhow, Hirst

Tries: Laulu-Togaga’e, Sambou, Thornley 2, Farnworth, Craven 2, Chapelhow, Moran, Dixon

Goals: Dixon 9/10

Report by Thomas Pearson