The Hurricanes bow out of the Challenge Cup

The Hurricanes left the Crown Oil Arena on Sunday evening without the win (and out of the Challenge Cup), but Head Coach Mark Dunning will no doubt be pleased with large sections of the Canes' performance as we took a strong Rochdale Hornets side to the limit.

Faced with drizzly and cold weather, the Canes' fortunes looked to take a turn for the worse early on as fans favourite Liam Welham came off second best from a tackle in the fifth minute and subsequently failed his head injury assessment. Despite this setback, and a series of shifts in the front row to accommodate Liam's departure, it was the Canes who struck first as a high looping pass from Callum McLelland on the Hornets line was snatched by Brad Clavering, who gratefully placed the ball down right of the sticks in the ninth minute (0-4). Dave Hewitt slotted home the easy conversion (0-6).

The Hurricanes lead only lasted five minutes as Rochdale winger Dan Nixon collected a cross-field kick from Dave Hewitt before being brought down by a high tackle – the subsequent penalty presented Rochdale with an opportunity to break the line down the left edge and pass out wide to Nixon who scored in the corner in the 14th minute (4-6). Seasoned veteran Martin Ridyard added the extras from out wide (6-6).  

Four minutes later, Todd Horner collected a high bomb and made the most of an open gap to race 50 metres down the middle before being brought down by a desperate Hornets defence. The Canes took advantage of Horner's efforts and earned themselves a penalty 25 metres from the Rochdale line. Opting to take the two, Hewitt nailed his second kick of the day (6-8). Just two minutes after this, debutant Callum McLelland showed his quality as he shimmied through the Hornets defence before passing to Tom Wilkinson to score down the right edge (6-12), with Dave Hewitt adding the extras from out wide (6-14).

In the 27th minute, Rochdale brought themselves back within two points as a break by Lewis Else allowed him to pass out to Myles Dalton-Harrop who then found Dan Nixon who scored his second of the day (10-14). Once again, Martin Ridyard converted from out wide (12-14). Unperturbed by the home sides stubbornness, the Canes restored their eight-point lead when Danny Barcoe caught the Hornets napping to scoot over from dummy-half in the 32nd minute (12-18) and Dave Hewitt effortlessly added the two from the kicking tee (12-20).

Buoyed by their efforts, the Hurricanes managed to hold off a persistent Rochdale side before the hooter sent the Canes into the sheds eight points ahead.

HALF-TIME SCORE: Rochdale Hornets 12 – 20 Midlands Hurricanes

The second half was a scrappy affair for both sides, with far less free-flowing rugby and discipline affecting both sides ability to make inroads into the opposite half. That said, it was the home side that came out firing and narrowed the deficit in the 45th minute when Martin Ridyard through a short pass into the hands of Joe Hartley who strolled over to score down the right edge (16-20). Martin Ridyard added the extras with a composed kick (18-20).

The sides then entered a period of stalemate for 15 minutes, with neither side able to break down the other but the Hornets showing glimpses of being a threat in attack. These glimpses morphed into the match-winning try as some quick hands out left saw Lewis Else shoot the ball out wide to Dan Nixon who hurled himself into the left-hand corner for his hat-trick (22-20). Once again, Ridyard scored from out wide and extended the Hornets lead to four points (24-20).

The final 20 minutes largely reflected the previous 15, save that it was now the Canes looking for that all important winning-try and the Hornets doing their best to frustrate our efforts. Two close chances came in the final ten, with Elliott Windley attempting to replicate Danny Barcoe's try but being deemed to have knocked the ball on just before the line, before a deft grubber kick from Callum McLlelland just rolled dead before a Hurricanes hand could make contact in the 78th minute. With the hooter going shortly thereafter, the Hurricanes made a final hail-Mary attempt but the hopeful chip was gleefully collected by the Hornets defence as the full-time whistle blew.

There was a slight element of déjà vu about this result – after all, the Hurricanes' first game under the new rebrand was a 36-16 loss to Rochdale Hornets in the Second Round of the 2022 Challenge Cup at none other than the Crown Oil Arena. Whilst the end-result was the same, the home side could be under no illusion that they hadn't been sorely tested by a resilient Hurricanes side. We now turn our attention to the 1895 Cup Group Game vs Sheffield Eagles at The Alexander Stadium next Sunday (and place bets on which Welham – Matty or Kris – will fend the other the most).

FULL-TIME SCORE: Rochdale Hornets 24 – 20 Midlands Hurricanes

Rochdale Hornets

Tries: Dan Nixon (3) and Joe Hartley

Conversions: Martin Ridyard (4/4)

Midlands Hurricanes

Tries: Brad Clavering, Tom Wilkinson and Danny Barcoe

Conversions: Dave Hewitt (3/3)

Penalties: Dave Hewitt (1/1)