Rochdale Hornets 16 - 8 Swinton Lions

Photo: Jackie Meredith

Hornets celebrate beating Swinton Lions

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Rochdale Hornets recorded a crucial victory over Swinton, which puts them three points clear of the relegation zone.

Hornets attack was not have been firing on all cylinders, however their defence was resolute throughout, conceding just one try off the back of repeat sets.

It was a victory in tough circumstances, as a number of first team players were missing due to injury and suspension, with the added pressure of Swinton and Oldham lurking just one point behind in the Championship Shield table.

Antony Walker lined up for his 100th appearance, while Josh Crowley and Lewis Foster returned from injury to offset the loss of Jono Smith and Lewis Palfrey.

The game started with Swinton forward Andy Bracek being placed on report for a cannonball tackle on Lewis Galbraith, which to the bemusement of the Hornets players went un-penalised.

Up the other end, Chris Hankinson opened the scoring with a penalty goal, before three minutes later Danny Yates made it 2-2 with a conversion of his own.

In last week’s defeat, Hornets enjoyed a period of dominance without posting any points, and it was déjà vu for the remainder of the first half, as they came up with errors at crucial moments.

Four minutes before the break, Walker’s milestone afternoon was brought to an early end after he suffered a concussion, and the sides went into the break level.

Hornets took the lead early in the second half and never looked back, as Yates slotted his second penalty of the game.

A great individual effort from Dec Kay saw him cross for the game’s first try on. He skipped across the line straight from a scrum, showing and going before finding a gap and having enough strength to wrestle the ball to ground. Yates nailed a touchline conversion.

Swinton hit back with a number of repeat sets on the Hornets line which broke their resolve, and Ilias Bergal beat Kevin Penny to score out wide. Hankinson landed a conversion from out wide.

13 minutes from time a huge hit from Jo Taira saw his opposite number cough up possession on half way, and from the resulting set a stroke of genius from Ryan Maneely re-established Hornets’ eight point lead. He jumped from dummy half, and for a moment looked void of ideas, before pulling off a sumptuous flat pass for Foster to cross untouched from close range.

The lead would have been even greater had the linesman not bizarrely disallowed Chris Riley a try, as the winger hacked a loose ball ahead before pouncing in-goal, only for the official to call a knock-on.

Swinton threw all they could at Hornets in the closing stages, and let a chance go begging when Shaun Robinson knocked on with the try line begging.

Despite Swinton's best efforts, Hornets saw the game out, claiming a crucial two points which could secure their place in the Championship for 2018.

Rochdale Hornets: Dec Kay, Chris Riley, Lewis Galbraith, Jake Eccleston, Kevin Penny, Lewis Foster, Danny Yates, Jo Taira, Ryan Maneely, Lewis Hatton, Josh Crowley, Lee Mitchell, Anthony Walker Subs: Gavin Bennion, Matthew Hadden, Jordan Case, Jack Holmes
Tries: Kay, Foster
Goals: Yates (4)

Swinton Lions: Michael Butt, Shaun Robinson, Chris Hankinson, Rhodri Lloyd, Ilias Bergal, Ben White, Anthony Nicholson, Andrew Bracek, Luke Waterworth, Ben Austin, Adam Jones, Oliver Davies, Josh Barlow Subs: Liam Carberry, Mark Nicholson, Danny Norman, Rob Lever
Tries: Bergal
Goals: Hankinson (2)

Referee: Jack Smith

Attendance: 606