Featherstone Rovers 56 - 6 Rochdale Hornets

Featherstone Rovers 56 - 6 Rochdale Hornets

Hornets have picked up some pretty brutal lessons in this opening month of their Championship campaign and serious title contenders Featherstone gave Hornets their sternest test to date, with a masterclass in clinical finishing. 

For the first 10 minutes there was little between the teams. But when Ryan Millard dropped a simple pass on the second tackle on his own 20 metre line, Featherstone pounced. From the resulting possession quick hands sent Uaisele in at the corner. The conversion was successful.

Almost immediately Hornets put themselves under more pressure when a last tackle Featherstone kick was fumbled, but the last pass in a rapid shuttle left to Uaisele was deemed forward.

Temporarily reprieved, Hornets went on the offensive. A Crook kick to the corner saw Gaz Langley swoop in and snatch the ball from a flailing Uaisele to ground the ball. Referee Bloem was the only person in the ground to consider him offside. No try.

Featherstone responded with a rapid-fire interchange of passes up a scrambling Hornets right flank and as Gaz Langley went down with a leg injury that saw him helped from the field, Hardman scored a converted try.

Swept upfield by a penalty Rovers capitalised with a try from Ellis.

Hornets kept coming. Joe Greenwood and Steve Marsh both drove Hornets close, but another pressure relieving penalty walked Featherstone the length of the field. Quick hands and a huge cut-out pass left Sam Te'o with no chance as Sharp scored by the flag.

The half ended with a Featherstone set going nowhere until a tidy combination of passes saw winger Uaisele find Worthington inside him to score.

Half Time: Featherstone Rovers 28 - 0 Rochdale Hornets

Facing a potential onslaught, Hornets began the second half in the worst possible way. Paul Crook uncharacteristically spilled the kick-off. Briggs went piling in off a short ball. Conversion added.

From the kick-off a missed tackle opened the floodgates and Featherstone had players queuing up to score. Hornets fans just back from the tea-bar wondered how it could be 40-nil.

To their credit, Hornets stiffened up their act. Tony Suffolk became an increasing pain for Featherstone as Hornets had their best spell of the game, but were unable to find the killer pass to unlock the Featherstone stern defence.

Whever Featherstone saw an opportunity they took it without hesitation.

Uaisele was first to respond to a Kain kick to score out wide and it was Uaisele again, this time a try from a 40 metre break off an outrageous cut-out pass. 

A repeat set off a threatening grubber gave Hornets field position to launch Anthony Walker, who showed great strength to score by the post. Paul Crook with the two and some pride restored.

Featherstone ended the afternoon with a last minute long-range effort from Sharp.

Whilst Hornets were well-beaten, the response from the Hornets supporters showed that they were not bowed.

Next week's Challenge Cup break provides a little respite for Hornets and a chance to put the lessons learned thus far into practice.