Rochdale Hornets 18 - 58 London Broncos

Photo: Jackie Meredith

Rochdale Hornets v London Bronco

Rochdale Hornets were on the wrong end of the score line at The Crown Oil Arena on Sunday afternoon, as they went down to full-time outfit London Broncos.

The final home game of the regular season for Hornets saw some poor Hornets defence punished by Broncos.

Lewis Galbraith returned after his eight game ban was quashed at an appeal. Jordan Case also came back into the side. Chris Riley missed out due to injury, with Dec Kay replacing him.

Hornets gave their opponents a head start which kept them at arm’s length throughout the game.

Andy Ackers crossed for the opening try after just three minutes; finishing Rhys Williams’ break down the left edge.

Jarrod Sammut crossed for his first of the afternoon soon after, as Apirana Pewhairangi’s flat pass sent him over.

A number of offloads from a last tackle kick led to Alex Walker racing in for try number three.

Hornets finally responded when a late tackle on Ben Moores gave them a penalty, which led to Jake Eccleston finding the line, thanks to some great footwork. Danny Yates added the extras with a brilliant conversion from the touch line.

Hornest second try came when Anthony Walker dummied through a gaping hole before a clever offload back inside found Lewis Foster who touched down.

Broncos responded immediately as they broke the length of the field, with Sammut finishing the move under the crossbar with his second try of the afternoon.

Hornets came up with an immediate reply of their own; they forced a knock-on from the kick-off and from the scrum Galbraith put Rob Massam in space, and he finished out wide. Yates nailed another conversion from out wide.

Two tries before the break put Broncos 18 points ahead at half-time - Matthew Davis spun over from close range before Edward Battye’s short ball assisted Lewis Bienek’s try.

Half time: Rochdale Hornets 18 - 36 London Broncos

Broncos posted their next points of the game when Williams found space on the left edge to race in from 25 metres out.

Ackers darted over from dummy half to grab his second.

Walker also brought up his brace, finishing off a break against a tired Hornets defence.

With Hornets slipping down to ninth it is all to play for in their final game of the regular season, as a win over Oldham could secure four home games in the Championship Shield.

Rochdale Hornets: Dec Kay, Kevin Penny, Jake Eccleston, Lewis Galbraith, Rob Massam, Lewis Foster, Danny Yates, Jo Taira, Ben Moores, Lee Mitchell, Jono Smith, Josh Crowley, Anthony Walker.
Replacements: Ryan Maneely, Gavin Bennion, Matthew Hadden, Jordan Case.
Tries: Eccleston, Foster, Massam.
Goals: Yates (3).

London Broncos: Alex Walker, Rhys Williams, Ben Hellewell, Michael Channing, Elliot Kear, Apirana Pewhairangi, Jarrod Sammut, Ben Evans, Andrew Ackers, Mark Ioane, Daniel Harrison, Jay Pitts, Matthew Davis.
Replacements: John Boudebza, Matthew Gee, Edward Battye, Lewis Bienek.
Tries: Ackers (2), Sammut (2), Walker (2), Davis, Bienek, Williams, Evans.
Goals: Sammut (9).

Referee: John McMullan

Attendance: 504