Challenge Cup: Rochdale Hornets 6 - 62 Widnes

Stu Biscomb, Corey Lee, Dale Bloomfield and Alex Trumper in specially commissioned Cup strip

Rochdale Hornets’ Ladbrokes Challenge Cup run came to an abrupt end, as they were comfortably beaten by Super League side Widnes Vikings.

Hornets matched their opponents in the opening exchanges, taking the lead after 19 minutes, until a collapse late in the first half after they were reduced to 12 men saw Widnes pull away.

For large periods of the game Hornets had to defend their line and were starved of possession, leading to tiredness taking over and ultimately they were punished by their full-time top flight counterparts.

Denis Betts didn’t hold back with his Widnes team selection, as Kevin Brown, Corey Thompson and Chris Bridge all started, with former Hornet Sam Brooks coming on from the bench.

Hornets coach Alan Kilshaw welcomed back Paul Crook, Samir Tahraoui, Stuart Biscomb and Jo Taira, but was without Jono Smith and three-time Challenge Cup winner Chris Riley.

It took just three minutes for Widnes to open the scoring, as back-to-back sets on the Hornets’ line ended in Bridge crossing in space out wide.

Hornets took advantage of a penalty to mount their first serious attack of the game.

Crook capitalised as his grubber deflected back into his path, with the half-back pouncing on the ball and converting his own effort to give Hornets the lead.

Macgraff Leuluai’s break paved the way for Jordan Johnstone to put Widnes ahead again, before Brown dummied his way through a tiring defence for his first of the afternoon.

Chris Dean had been denied by a brilliant try saver from Wayne English, before he scored off the back of a strong break from Brooks.

Taira was sin-binned late in the half, and immediately after Brown shrugged off an attempted tackle to cross for his second.

From the resulting kick-off Brown sent Stefan Marsh racing down the left wing, and English was on hand to halt the break again with another great last-man tackle.

It merely delayed the inevitable though, as Widnes threw the ball out to the opposite edge and Thompson darted over in space to make it 28-6 at the break.

Just as he did at the beginning of the first half, Bridge added the first points of the second half, as Hornets came up with a forward pass on their own 20 metre line and the Widnes three-quarter made them pay.

Marsh added his name to the list of scorers after starting a break in his own half, sending Thompson through a hole in the defence before he supported and was on hand to finish the move.

Gil Dudson sent front row partner Manase Manuokafoa over for the next score.

Brown completed his hat-trick from close range, despite the attention of a number of Hornets defenders.

Not to be out done, Bridge raced through a gaping hole in a tired defence to touch down to the right of the posts for his third of the tie.

Thompson, whose kick returns were causing havoc in the Hornets defence, started a full length try when he darted down the left wing, before jinking inside and finding Matt Whitley who finished in the opposite corner.

Bridge sent over the conversion to round off his 26 point haul and complete a comfortable victory for the Super League side, as they ran out 62-6 winners.

Rochdale Hornets: Wayne English, Corey Lee, Michael Ratu, James Dandy, Dale Bloomfield, Paul Crook, Danny Yates, Samir Tahraoui, Ben Moores, Warren Thompson, Stuart Biscomb, Jordan Case, James Tilley Subs: Alex McClurg, Matty Hadden, Alex Trumper, Jo Taira

Tries: Crook (19)
Goals: Crook 1/1

Widnes Vikings: Corey Thompson, Paddy Flynn, Ed Chamberlain, Chris Bridge, Stefan Marsh, Tom Gilmore, Kevin Brown, Manase Manuokafoa, Lloyd White, Gil Dudson, Matt Whitley, Chris Dean, Macgraff Leiluai Subs: Sam Brooks, Jay Chapelhow, Jordan Johnstone, Hep Cahill

Tries: Bridge (3, 41, 67), Johnstone (24), Brown (27, 38, 63), Dean (34), Thompson (40), Marsh (45), Manuokafoa (57), Whitley (72)

Goals: Bridge 7/12

Rochdale Hornets Man of the Match: Wayne English
Attendance: 1,242
Referee: James Child