Barrow Raiders 4 - 18 Rochdale Hornets

Hornets cemented their place at the top of the Kingston Press League One table with an impressive win against Barrow Raiders despite heavy rain, wind and a boggy pitch at Craven Park.

Hornets made just one change to the starting 13 that drew with Toulouse last weekend – Dale Bloomfield coming in for Tom Lineham on the wing – and Stuart Biscomb and Jack Francis on the bench in place of Joe Philbin and Jo Taira.

The wet weather played its part early on with both sides making handling errors and giving away silly penalties but when Ben Moores broke through Ryan Fieldhouse’s attempted tackle he was eventually brought down illegally 30 yards out and Paul Crook opted to kick at goal for the opening points.

Moores came to blows with Lee Haney and both players were sin binned for ten minutes to cool down. The following penalty saw the Raiders surge towards the Hornets line but good defence from the visitors meant Karl Ashall was held up over the line to deny the home side a try.

Hornets were living dangerously at the end of the first quarter but were saved from conceding due to mistakes from Raiders in the final 20.

It became a battle on the pitch but when Samir Tahroui got involved with Martin Aspinwall there were no cards shown this time and play was allowed to resume.

A good break by Hornets saw Dale Bloomfield slide onto a deft kick over from Crook ahead of Haney but the Barrow player was sin-binned again for interference.

Minutes later Bloomfield collected what looked to be a forward pass from Wayne English just five yards out and he slid in for the first try. Crook converted.

Bloomfield thought he had scored again for Hornets but the referee awarded a penalty to Barrow for obstruction.

Jono Smith was held up over the line on the last tackle and Barrow were able to regroup before another penalty to Hornets saw Crook add another two points to the Hornets tally before half time.

Raiders finally got on the scoreboard after good passing to the right which allowed Cameron Pitman to grab Raiders' first try right on half time.

Early in the second half Barrow tried to break the Hornets line but to no avail. However, a chipped kick from Tahroui bounced in front of Fieldhouse and almost fell kindly for Chris Riley but his kick on went out of play.

Hornets second try came when Crook’s grubber kick was met by the boot of Fieldhouse and fell kindly into the arms of Smith who had the space to charge in and score. Crook converted.

Barrow began to surge forward mid-way through the half and it took a Bloomfield hand to tip a wide pass out of play for a home scrum 10 yards out. Despite the pressure Hornets stood firm.

Riley broke through the Barrow defence and he passed to Moores who couldn’t keep hold of the wet ball either.

Hornets won a penalty following another break which Crook had no hesitation in converting for the two points making the final score 4-18.

Hornets had extended their lead at the top of the table after an error-strewn but comfortable performance in difficult conditions on the Cumbrian coast.

Barrow Raiders: Fieldhouse, Haney, Hankinson, Litherland, Pitman, Dallimore, Ward, Bullock, Ashall,  Wilkes, Harrison, Morrow, Aspinwall.
Subs (all used): Marwood, Toal, Duerden, Bate.

Rochdale Hornets: English, Bloomfield, Ratu, Galbraith, Riley, Crook, Yates, Tahroui, Moores, Thompson, Smith, Case, Tilley.
Subs (all used): McClurg,  Hadden, Biscomb,  Francis.

Referee: Terry Crashley
Attendance: 793