Report: Rochdale Hornets 24-10 Keighley Cougars

Rochdale Hornets had to come from behind to ensure their 100% winning start to the new Betfred Championship season continued with a 24-10 victory over Keighley Cougars.

There were Hornets debuts for Jack Hansen, who joined the club from Halifax Panthers earlier this week and went straight into the starting line-up, and loanees Kieran Taylor and Jonny Vaughan.

The game’s first incident came after just three minutes, a 40/20 kick from stand-off Jamie Dallimore, before Max Flanagan suffered a blow to the head and was forced to leave the field for further assessment, replaced by Vaughan.

The visitors went close twice in the space of a few minutes, but strong goal-line defence from Rochdale thwarted both attempts.

Dallimore was looking lively once more just before the half-hour mark, a kick into space causing Keighley all sorts of issues as the home side forced a repeat set.

As the heavens began to open, the game started to become tricky in conditions not best suited to expansive rugby league.

It looked like the teams would be heading to the break scoreless but right on the stroke of half-time, a fortuitous bounce of the ball off a Keighley head found Oliver Whitford, who slid over in the corner.

After a lacklustre first half, Gary Thornton’s side wasted no time at the start of the second period and were level almost instantly thanks to Lewis Hatton’s barnstorming run against his former club. Dallimore added the extras from underneath the sticks to put the home side ahead.

Moments later, they were in again, this time through powerful centre Tom Ashton as he muscled his way over in the corner.

Rochdale were in the mood for more and crossed for their third try of the afternoon soon after, debutant Taylor catching a quick kick to add his name to the scoresheet as the Hornets continued to take control of the contest.

TJ Boyd was next to add his name to the scoresheet 11 minutes from time, diving home in the corner to help his side take a giant step closer to securing the two points and maintain their unbeaten start to the league campaign.

Ian Hardman’s side wouldn’t go down without a fight, however, as eight minutes from time, winger Dylan Proud found his way over in the corner before Matty Beharrell added the extras to reduce the deficit to 14 points.

Dallimore’s kicking game again looked threatening, but some dangerous kicks were eventually dealt with by the Cougars defence.

This proved to be the last meaningful action of the afternoon as Rochdale wrapped up the win thanks to a mixture of defensive efficiency and potent attacking play, adding another valuable two competition points to their name.

Rochdale Hornets: Flanagan, Boyd, Ashton, Sa’u, Nixon, Dallimore, Hansen, Dayes, Whitmore, Kelly-Duffy, Wood, Taylor, Syme. Bench: Hatton, Waterworth, Vaughan, Reid.

Tries: Hatton, Ashton, Taylor, Boyd

Goals: Dallimore (4)

Keighley Cougars: Sayner, Whitford, Proud, Clarke, Holroyd, Farrell, Beharrell, Schofield, G. Flanagan, Green, Hill, Dean, Brown. Bench: Burton, Lanksey, Rushworth, Salmon.

Tries: Whitford, Proud

Goals: Beharrell

Gary Thornton reaction

Lewis Hatton reaction