Rochdale Hornets 18 - 28 Hull Kingston Rovers

Date published: 19 February 2017

Shaun Lunt’s late try gave Hull KR a battling win over a spirited Rochdale Hornets and inflicted Hornets' first loss of the 2017 season.

Played at a ferocious pace in front of a huge 2,000+ crowd, the atmosphere was electric.

Hornets started well and scored first but Hull KR dominated most of the first half as handling errors cost Hornets dear.

The second half saw Hornets take the game to Hull KR and they bossed the half for long periods scoring two tries to get within two points of Hull KR with just minutes to play.

A disputed Hull KR try finally sunk the spirited Hornets fight back, and a penalty on the hooter gave Hull KR a somewhat flattering scoreline.

Hornets opened the scoring early on when Middlehurst pounced on a grubber in the goal area. Lewis Palfrey converted.

Hornets controlled the opening ten but thereafter Hull KR dominated, in large part due to a series of Hornets handling errors in the slippery conditions.

Rovers took advantage of one such error to open their account. Abdull offloaded to Moss in the tackle and he crossed the line out wide. Difficult conversion from the wing with the wind and rain and Ellis missed.

It wasn't long before Rovers took the lead. A sustained spell of possession culminated in Moss scoring his second after throwing the Hornets defenders a dummy to slide over. Ellis' conversion attempt missed but Rovers had a lead they were never to relinquish.

Hornets came under real pressure and a favourable bounce from a bomb saw Quinlan palm the ball back to Minns who touched down. Ellis missed the conversion for the third time.

Five minutes to the half time break and the pace of the game was breathtaking. The Hornets line stood firm in the face of a huge physical Rovers onslaught but the weight of possession finally told just before half time when, from a scrum, Ellis fed Heffernan who slid over. Ellis with a simple conversion - to ironic cheers from the substantial Rovers contingent.

Half Time: Rochdale Hornets 6 - 18 Hull Kingston Rovers

Hornets made a superb start to the second half and stunned the raucous Rovers supporters into silence.

Rovers were caught with ball on the last tackle just inside the Hornets half and a break from 30 metres out ended with Danny Yates going over. Lewis Palfrey converted.

In an enthralling second half Hornets had a try chalked off before Rovers finally got into the Hornets half.

Unfortunately for Hornets a high tackle on Quinlan resulted in a kickable penalty for Rovers, and knowing they were on the back foot in the game, opted to take the two points with a kick in front of the posts.

The game started to get tasty and following a penalty, Hornets found themselves ten metres out - a last tackle power play saw Moores barge over underneath the posts. Lewis Palfrey converted to narrow the Rovers lead to just two points.

The pulsating pace continued but both defences held firm until Hornets hearts were broken just minutes from the hooter when the referee awarded Rovers a disputed try; Lunt racing down the touchline and arguably forcing his way over. Ellis found his kicking boots to land the conversion.

As the hooter sounded Rovers were awarded a penalty in front of the Hornets posts to add a further two points to their tally.

A fast-paced, hard fought encounter that saw the stronger, fitter team prevail in the end, but Hornets will not be downhearted at having all but matched the full time professionals and favourites to win the league.

Man-of-the-match: Gary Middlehurst – the Hornets loose forward didn’t deserve to be on the losing side and his early season form is proving that he was an astute addition to the 2017 squad. He combined aggressive, straight running with some brilliant ball playing while he was heavily involved in defence once again.

Rochdale Hornets: Miles Greenwood, Chris Riley, Jake Eccleston, Lewis Galbraith, Rob Massam, Lewis Palfrey, Danny Yates, Samir Tahraoui, Ben Moores, Gavin Bennion, Danny Bridge, Josh Crowley, Gary Middlehurst Subs: Ryan Maneely, Jo Taira, Matty Hadden, Jordan Case.

Tries: Middlehurst (5), Yates (44), Moores (61)
Goals: Palfrey 3/3

Hull Kingston Rovers: Adam Quinlan, Kieran Moss, Thomas Minns, Andrew Heffernan, Ryan Shaw, Jordan Abdull, Jamie Ellis, Nick Scruton, Shaun Lunt, Mitch Clark, Maurice Blair, James Greenwood, Danny Addy Subs: Chris Clarkson, James Donaldson, Ben Kavanagh, Robbie Mulhern.

Tries: Moss (10), Minns (12, 15), Heffernan (35), Lunt (75)
Goals: Ellis 4/7

Attendance: 2,012

Referee: Chris Campbell

Hornets coach Alan Kilshaw reflects on the game

Highlights of Rochdale Hornets v Hull Kingston Rovers
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