Rochdale Hornets 42 - 28 Keighley Cougars

Photo: Jackie Meredith

Paul Crook converts a try for the Hornets

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Rochdale Hornets made it three wins on the spin with a win over Keighley Cougars on their return to Spotland, moving back to second in the table with just one game remaining in the regular season.

Hornets were dominant in the first half, opening up a 26-6 lead, before a shaky second half let Keighley back into the contest before Benjamin Jullien sealed the win for Hornets with a late try.

Wayne English returned in place of the injured Chris Riley for Hornets, with Benjamin Jullien and Tom Lineham coming in on dual registration and replacing Corey Lee and Lewis Galbraith.

Hornets opened their account after a great run by Jo Taira took him to within a metre of the line before Ben Moores sent James Tilley over with a cut-out ball from dummy half. Paul Crook converted.

Jullien was in for his first of the afternoon coming off the back of a carry from Taira which drew a penalty, and clever play from Danny Yates sent the Frenchman through a gaping hole in the defence. Crook converted.

English marked his return with a try, with Jordan Case’s offload sending the fullback over. Paul Crook with his third conversion of the game.

Hornets scored a spectacular fourth try when Jullien broke and found English in support who managed to find Dale Bloomfield despite being ankle tapped, with the winger finishing the move.

Keighley scored before the break as Ross Peltier brushed off two Hornets defenders.

Crook knocked over a penalty goal just before the break.

Half time: Rochdale Hornets 26 - 6 Keighley Cougars

Hornets scored the first points of the second half with a penalty goal from Crook.

Jono Smith raced down the left wing for a try, as he covered for the injured Bloomfield who had left the field. The try came off the back of a brilliant hit from Taira, who had forced Richie Hawkyard back into his own in goal for a drop out.

James Feather was over for the Keighley after some soft defending at marker allowed the hooker to dart over from dummy half.

Lineham showed his class when Hornets replied, stepping back inside to break the line and offload to Moores, with the hooker going over under the posts.

A quick-fire double from Charlie Martin clawed Keighley back into the game, his first coming after he had managed to steal the ball in a one-on-one tackle with Crook before racing to the try line. His second came courtesy of a flat pass from Handforth at the line.

When Tilley was sin binned for a professional foul seven minutes from time it gave Keighley hope.

They came within 10 points moments later, with Brendan Rawlins crashing over for an unconverted try on the right edge.

It was too little too late though, as the 12 men of Hornets managed a late score of their own when Jullien dove over in the corner after received a long pass from Moores.

The win means that Hornets now have a great chance to secure second spot before the split for the Super Eights, and go into next week’s game with Doncaster off the back of a third straight win.

Rochdale Hornets: Wayne English, Tom Lineham, Dave Cookson, Benjamin Jullien, Dale Bloomfield, Paul Crook, Danny Yates, Jo Taira, Ben Moores, Warren Thompson, Jono Smith, Jordan Case, James Tilley Subs: Ryan Maneely, Matty Hadden, Samir Tahraoui, Josh Crowley

Tries: Tilley (2), Jullien (14, 77), English (19), Bloomfield (22), Smith (54), Moores (62)
Goals: Crook 7/9

Keighley Cougars: Richie Hawkyard, Jonny Campbell, Charlie Martin, Danny Lawton, Paul White, Will Milner, Paul Handforth, Matthew Bailey, James Feather, Brendon Rawlins, Josh Lynam, Sonny Esslemont, Aaron Ollett Subs: Adam Brook, Neil Cherryholme, John Oakes, Ross Peltier

Tries: Peltier (32), Feather (57), Martin (65, 71), Rawlins (74)
Goals: Lawton 4/5