'Intense' rivalry returns

Hornets v Oldham

Good Friday signals the start of the Kingstone Press League One season and the return of one of rugby league’s fiercest rivalries as Rochdale Hornets host Oldham Roughyeds.

In a game dubbed the ‘El Classico’ of rugby league the two rivals will go head-to-head in what is set to be a fiery season opener.

It is the first time the two have met since the Hornets were promoted to the Championship in 2013 at the expense of Oldham and they will be desperate to get their long awaited revenge.

Ian Talbot’s men will have something to say about that though as they are out to bounce back from back-to-back cup defeats, and in the Good Friday derby they have the perfect opportunity.

The Hornets boss knows what the rivalry is all about and he is looking forward to starting the season with a bang.

“It’s a great way for us to start the season with all the local rivalries between ourselves and Oldham,” said the Hornets chief. 

“I’m sure there are some open wounds for them from the last time we played them in the (2013) grand final and they will want to make amends for that. The rivalry is intense.”

That 32-18 grand final victory propelled Rochdale to the second tier and clinched their first trophy since 1922 however, with the new structure coming into place they fell victim to a five team relegation zone.

Promotion back to the Championship is the main goal for this season and a victory over the Roughyeds in the first game of the season will echo their intentions of returning at the first attempt.

After a disrupted pre-season it is time for the bread and butter of the league competition to start and Talbot isn’t looking for excuses as his side prepare for the start of their promotion push.

“Pre-season has been a bit stop-start. We missed out on two of the more competitive games we should have had against Hunslet and Saints, which left us two games behind where we would have liked to have been going into the season.

“Maybe we were a little bit undercooked going into the North Wales and Swinton games but we should have no excuses going forward.”

Both sides go into this game after having a week off, with Oldham’s iPro Sport Cup semi-final being called off and the hosts having a free weekend.

Hornets’ last result was a disappointing 30-12 defeat to local rivals Swinton as the visitors faced Championship opposition in Sheffield Eagles but came up short in 44-20 defeat.

After questioning the team’s attitude in their defeat to Swinton Lions in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup, Talbot insisted that he is content with his squad for the 2015 season.

“I’m happy with what I’ve got and I’m sure throughout the season we’ll be calling on dual registration players from St Helens.

“We’ve tried to resist that up to now but it will become vitally important for us as we progres.”