Hornets looking for crucial derby win

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Rochdale Hornets face a crucial play-off match up against local rivals Swinton Lions at Sedgley Park on Sunday in round 16 of the Kingstone Press League One season.

With just seven games to go every match is important for Ian Talbot’s men, especially as Swinton sit just one point behind them in sixth place with a game in hand.

The last time these two teams met was back in round six at Spotland with Rochdale coming away with the two points in a 28-16 triumph, however their last trip to Sedgley saw Hornets knocked out of the Challenge Cup.

The Lions completed a double over Keighley Cougars last week with a shock 22-14 victory at Cougar Park to end Keighley's unbeaten home record and boost their play-off hopes.

After a slow first-half Rochdale came up with a much improved second half performance in their previous outing, as Paul Crook led his side home to a 50-22 victory over Coventry Bears with a 26-point haul.

Speaking after the win coach Talbot made it clear that despite the victory his side’s performance wasn’t good enough if they are to finish in the top five.

“We didn’t perform to our best, it was a scratchy performance but a win’s a win,” he commented. “We will take the two points at this stage.

“If you had said before that we would have scored 50 points we’d have took it but I’m not too happy with the 22 conceded and I’m not too happy with the overall performance really.”

Something that he hasn’t been happy with all season is the lack of consistency in their performances but Talbot is hopeful that Hornets can improve again for their important match this weekend and end the season well.

“We need to try and get a consistency in our performances that we keep talking about, that’s something we can’t quite master at the minute for whatever reason.

“Swinton is a big game for us so we need to improve again to kick on towards the back end of the season.”

A win on Sunday should see the Hornets cement their place in the top five and boost their play-off chances in one of the tightest League One seasons to date.