Report: Rochdale Hornets 70-6 Newcastle Thunder

Dan Nixon ran in five second-half tries as Rochdale Hornets romped to a 70-6 victory over Newcastle Thunder on Sunday afternoon.

The Hornets were on the front foot straight away, aided by a kick-off that went straight into touch from Joseph Bradley. They marched up the field, in a move that ended with Max Flanagan darting through a gap to score inside two minutes.

Lewis Else was the architect and finisher of a great breakaway score after 12 minutes as he danced out of his own 20m area before going the length of the field, turning down the support of the league’s top try-scorer Luke Forber to cross. 

Luke Nelmes crashed over from close range soon after to firmly put the hosts in the driving seat, extending their advantage to 18-0 with the help of Flanagan’s third successful conversion of the afternoon. 

Tyler Walton was sent to the sin-bin for repeated ruck infringements as the visitors struggled to cope with the speed of rugby league that the Hornets were producing. And with the visitors all at sea, Ross Whitmore, who signed for the Hornets from Hunslet on Tuesday, jumped over from dummy-half to grab a debut try and further cement the hosts' dominance.

Having been under incessant pressure while down to 12 men, it was the return to 13 which became the visitors' undoing as confusion in the defensive line allowed Gregg McNally to glide through a hole from full-back to score. 

There was enough time left in the first half for the Hornets to coast over again, Ben Will having the easy task of diving over in the corner as the hooter sounded.

The second half began in identical fashion to the first, with a Hornets try. 

Dan Nixon acrobatically scored down the right, finishing off a free-flowing move. 

The Hornets struck again four minutes later with Ben Forster, back at the club on dual-registration from Oldham, crashing over from close range. 

Outside back Nixon then helped himself to a second try with a walk-in finish which was far simpler than his previous acrobatics in the same corner 10 minutes earlier. 

A perfect touchline conversion from Flanagan then saw the Hornets bring up their half-century of points with 54 minutes on the clock. 

In the very next set, the Hornets pulled off the same play again, with the same man scoring in a carbon copy of his try two minutes earlier. A second walk-in also saw Nixon bring up a quickfire 14-minute hat-trick.

Nixon helped himself to yet another try in the same corner shortly after the hour mark. A long, looping pass found the winger, who took on his opposing number with a step before diving over for his fourth and Rochdale’s 11th try of the game.

The Hornets’ 12th and 13th tries came through Else and Nixon - the latter scoring his fifth of the afternoon - as the pair both finished off line breaks from their own half.

The visitors’ dismal day ended on a positive note, however, as Leo Bradley grabbed his side’s first try in three weeks as a mere consolation, with the Hornets running out comfortable winners.

Rochdale Hornets: McNally, Nixon, Will, Harrop, Forber, Else, Flanagan, E Simpson, Whitmore, Nelmes, D Simpson, Straugheir, Whittel. Subs: Punchard, Dayes, Forster, Killan.

Tries: Flanagan, Else (2), Nelmes, Whitmore, McNally, Will, Nixon (5), Forster

Goals: Flanagan (8), Punchard

Newcastle Thunder: J.Bradley, L.Bradley, Croston, Hagan, Dickinson, Donaghy, Hansen, Gibson, Rolls, Price, Taylor, Birch, Walton. Subs: Lintin, Siddle, Weetman, Handy.

Tries: L.Bradley

Goals: Donaghy