Rochdale Hornets 24 - 20 Midlands Hurricanes

Date published: 16 February 2024

A hat-trick of tries from Dan Nixon helped Rochdale progress to the fourth round of the Challenge Cup against a spirited Midlands Hurricanes.

Hurricanes – written off by many bookmakers, with some predicting they'd finish last in the upcoming League One season – proved a tough nut to crack.

New signing Callum McLelland, the former Leeds Rhinos man, was at the heart of all of what was good for Mark Dunning’s men.

Hurricanes took advantage of Rochdale’s mistake-laden first half, with them leading 20-12 at the break, but Hornets – possibly after a half-time rollicking – dug in to secure the win.

Midlands couldn't find their spark with a tired McLelland nullified for large parts, perhaps understandably given he has not played a competitive game since 2021.

And Lewis Else, for Rochdale, proved to be a handful for Midlands with his quick, deceptive plays.

But it was Midlands who struck first when Brad Clavering caught Deane Meadows off guard to run in for the first try of the game, which Hewitt converted.

When in good ball territory, Rochdale were a threat but they didn't have enough possession to inflict any damage to Midlands who were the better of the two sides in the first forty.

But Hornets fought back, and some slick interchange play, orchestrated by Else, helped draw out the Midlands defenders to allow Nixon the space to score his first try in the corner, with Ridyard adding the extras.

A Hewitt penalty, who never missed a kick, meant Midlands regained the lead on 17 minutes, which they maintained until Nixon’s third try on the hour mark.

Matters were made worse when McLelland threw an outrageous dummy to break the line and offload to Tom Wilkinson to make the score 14-6.

Some sustained Rochdale pressure, helped by Midlands’ indiscipline, laid the platform for Lewis Else to spot Dan Nixon in acres of space, who scored his second of the game on the left wing, with Ridyard converting.

 

 

Hooker Danny Barcoe was lively for Midlands and, after several dummies close to the line, he finally got his reward when he caught Rochdale off guard to make it 20-12.

But that was as good as it got for Midlands, as Rochdale came out of the sheds, after the break, firing with hooker Matty Wilkinson exposing gaps in the Midlands defence.

Brad Brennan, introduced off the bench in the second half, helped Rochdale gain more territory to keep Midlands under the cosh.

Joe Hartley, who had been starved of service for most of the game, got one back after some more good Lewis Else play.

Rochdale continued to press and they found more joy down the left edge with Dan Nixon completing his hat-trick just on 63 minutes – a try which Ridyard converted to secure the victory.

Midlands, despite being on the losing end of the result, showed they can upset a few this year.

Rochdale’s win means they now face a trip to Batley in the Challenge Cup fourth round.

Full Time: Rochdale Hornets 24 - 20 Midlands Hurricanes

Report courtesy of League Express

Rochdale Hornets tries: Nixon (14, 27, 63), Hartley (47)
Goals: Ridyard 4/4

Midlands Hurricanes tries: Clavering (9), Wilkinson (18), Barcoe (30)
Goals: Hewitt 4/4