MATCH REPORT: MIDLANDS HURRICANES 22-20 ROCHDALE HORNETS (BETFRED LEAGUE ONE ROUND 14)

Back to winning ways (Credit: Andy Shaw)

Canes survive second-half scare to do the double over Rochdale

After back-to-back defeats against North Wales Crusaders (14-4) and Goole Vikings (12-13), Head Coach Mark Dunning’s men had an opportunity to bounce back as they hosted Rochdale Hornets at The Alexander Stadium only two months after securing a historic 10-22 away win at the Crown Oil Arena. With the Canes sat in third place on points difference and North Wales hosting second-placed Workington Town in Colwyn Bay, the hosts knew that a win and other results going their way could seriously help towards securing a Super 8s spot.

Sunday’s game would be important for other reasons too, with both starting second rowers - Aaron Willis and Tom Wilkinson - making their 50th competitive appearance in a Canes shirt. It would also be the second instance in which ex-Hornet Aiden Roden would face his former club since signing for the Canes at the start of this season. In terms of team selection, Mark only made one change from the Goole game with Marcus Green replaced by the returning Brad Billsborough who would slot into the halves alongside Sully Medforth.

Ex-Hornet Aiden Roden with an early break (Credit: Andy Shaw)

The first quarter of the match was - as anticipated - largely equal with the Canes initially in the ascendency but Rochdale eventually finding some momentum in their sets and making good territory. The main Canes attacking set came early on as a good break from Aiden Roden saw him race down the middle before passing to Todd Horner who continued his run and passed to Tom Wilkinson who found himself quickly pulled down by a scrambling Rochdale defence.

It would take almost half an hour for the Canes to break the deadlock, although a first try almost came a couple of minutes earlier as a rampaging Aaron Willis took a short pass from Aiden Roden to burrow over the line, however he was held up by a resilient Hornets defence.

Ryan Johnson opens our account (Credit: Andy Shaw)

Just a few plays later, a long pass from dummy-half by Roden was caught by a lunging Billsborough who then hurtled a pass to Ryan Johnson who sold a dummy and cut through a gap on the left edge to open the scoring and bag his first try since securing a hat-trick against Newcastle Thunder in late March (4-0). Billsborough - taking over kicking duties - was unable to add the extras.

The Canes suffered a setback a few minutes later as Aaron Willis’ milestone appearance was cut short after he looked visibly uncomfortable following a challenge and was helped off the pitch and taken to hospital, however we are pleased to confirm that initial concerns about the injury suffered were overstated and Aaron is recovering well.

A little under ten minutes later, the Canes doubled their lead as a good scoot from dummy-half by Ethan Newboult gave the hosts some much needed territory to set up a spiralling Sully Medforth bomb on the last which was spilled by Luke Forber into the welcome arms of Tom Wilkinson. The young second-rower promptly took full advantage and raced down the middle, audaciously selling a dummy to cut through a wide gap and diving over just left of the sticks untouched (8-0). Finding himself in a position to easily add the extras, Billsborough duly kicked us further ahead (10-0).

Tom Wilkinson dives over to score on his milestone appearance (Credit: Andy Shaw)

As the first half came to a close, Jack Miller decided to kick a speculative bomb to the right corner that was plucked out of the air by Ross Oakes who raced away before passing inwards to Sully Medforth, who took the ball past the half-way line before passing to Mikey Wood. Mikey quickly attempted to continue play with a no-look offload, however his pass was found wanting and some scrambling defence eventually saw Liam Kirk kick the ball into touch to draw a frantic end to the first 40 to a close.

Half-time: Midlands Hurricanes 10-0 Rochdale Hornets

The Canes started the second half by maintaining control of possession, and an early opportunity to score presented itself as Todd Horner placed a grubber kick into the right corner for Luis Roberts to pounce on. Unfortunately, the bounce did not favour Luis and rolled out behind the Hornets try-line to give the visitors a 7-tackle restart on their 20 metre line.

However, it would only take a few more minutes for Midlands fortune to improve. A good run by Mikey Wood put Ethan Newboult in position to pass from dummy-half to Brad Billsborough who earned his second assist of the afternoon with a behind the back pass to Matty Chrimes who sliced through a gap to plonk the ball down for our third score to the joy of the home faithful (14-0). Billsborough added to his assist by kicking another conversion, and the Canes appeared to be in a position to run away with things (16-0).

Matty Chrimes goes over for his 12th try of the season (Credit: Andy Shaw)

Things would go far differently, as conceding that try seemed to light a fire under Rochdale that led to unquestionably their best spell of the game. Just two minutes later the Hornets would get the ball back and open their account, with a neat dummy leading to a line break by Greg McNally who passed inwards to Jack Miller who offloaded to Lewis Else who dove under the sticks to score (16-4). Miller would also be on hand to convert an easy attempt from in front of the posts (16-6).

Only four minutes later Rochdale doubled their score, as a stall in play following an injury to a Rochdale player gave the visitors an opportunity to reset and throw a long looping pass to Luke Forber who went over untouched in the left corner (16-10). Jack Miller brought the Hornets within two points with an impressive curving kick (16-12). Rochdale’s momentum would continue for another 10 minutes and result in them levelling the scores as a last-minute grubber by Lewis Else was gathered by Tom Ashton who used his momentum to carry himself over the line (16-16). Rochdale were, however, unable to convert the try following Jack Miller being assisted off the pitch due to suffering an injury.

Brad Billsborough lines up a conversion (Credit: Andy Shaw)

As the game entered the final ten minutes, Canes fans could have been forgiven for worrying a repeat of the Goole Vikings drop-goal could be on the cards. However, the home side were not willing to give up and a knock-on by Rochdale 10 metres out from their line gave us the opportunity we needed to get back on track. Roden’s pass from the scrum found Billsborough, with Brad producing his third assist of the game by placing a flat pass to Ross Oakes who cut through the line and scored behind the sticks (20-16). Brad once again added the extras with a simple conversion (22-16).

Momentum would quickly shift back to Rochdale however, with a short kick restart being knocked-on and gifting Rochdale an opportunity to strike again. The visitors took full advantage, with a series of passes from left to right eventually leading to Dan Nixon who leapt over into the right hand corner despite suspicions of a forward pass in the build-up (22-20). Faced with a difficult conversion from out wide, Rochdale were unable to level the scores as the sides entered the final minutes.

There was still time for some last-minute drama, with the Canes on the verge of sealing the win as a short pass from Aiden Roden to Elliot Morris on the last saw the prop crash over from short-range. Whilst the Canes players and fans were convinced Morris had secured our fifth try, the referee deemed Elliot to have knocked on before going over the line and awarded a handover on the 10 metre line. As the hooter went a couple of minutes later Rochdale had ball in hand and kicked a Hail Mary, however the ball was pounced on to bring proceedings to a close.

Full-time: Midlands Hurricanes 22-20 Rochdale Hornets

Whilst Head Coach Mark Dunning would have surely wanted a more definitive result, the Canes secured their eighth League One win of the season and regained second place in the table following North Wales Crusaders 56-22 win over Workington Town. Mark’s men will face a long trip up to Workington in what could prove to be a crucial clash in deciding who progresses to the Super 8s.

MAN OF THE MATCH:
Jon-Luke Kirby (Sponsored by EJ Interiors Ltd)

TRIES:
Johnson, Wilkinson, Chrimes and Oakes

CONS:
Billsborough (3/4)

SCORING SEQUENCE:
4-0, 8-0, 10-0, 14-0, 16-0, 16-4, 16-6, 16-10, 16-12, 16-16, 20-16, 22-16 and 22-20.