Hornets season opener is against Oldham

John Cookson, Hornets

Rochdale Hornets will begin their Kingstone Press League One campaign with a Good Friday derby game against Oldham Roughyeds.

The two teams haven’t locked horns since the 2013 Kingstone Press play off final in which Hornets were victorious. The derby fixture, nicknamed the 'A627(M) El Classico' due to the connecting road between the towns, is set to be fiercely contested and the 'Good Friday' slot will add to the atmosphere of the game.

The 22 game league season will see Rochdale play home and away against most teams but, with teams agreeing to a 22 game season, are spared the long distance journeys to London Skolars and Hemel Stags, whilst York City Knights and Gloucester All Gold’s will not visit Spotland.

Kick off dates and times are subject to change following the members meeting on 18 November, but the fixture list currently has a mix of six Sundays, four Saturday tea time fixtures and the Good Friday derby opener.

Rochdale Hornets Fixtures 2015

Round Date         Home                    Away

• 1 03/04/2015 Rochdale Hornets Oldham RLFC 3pm
• 2 12/04/2015 UoG All Golds Rochdale Hornets 3pm
• 3 18/04/2015 Rochdale Hornets Barrow Raiders 5.30pm
• 4 26/04/2015 Rochdale Hornets Gateshead Thunder 3pm
• 5 03/05/2015 Coventry Bears Rochdale Hornets 3pm
• 6 09/05/2015 Rochdale Hornets Swinton Lions 5.30pm
• 7 16/05/2015 Rochdale Hornets Oxford RLFC 5.30pm
• 8 31/05/2015 South Wales Scorpions Rochdale Hornets 3pm
• 9 07/06/2015 York City Knights Rochdale Hornets 3pm
• 10 14/06/2015 North Wales Crusaders Rochdale Hornets 2.30pm
• 11 21/06/2015 Keighley Cougars Rochdale Hornets 3pm
• 12 27/06/2015 Rochdale Hornets Hemel Stags 5.30pm
• 13 05/07/2015 Gateshead Thunder Rochdale Hornets 3pm
• 14 12/07/2015 Oldham RLFC Rochdale Hornets 3pm
• 15 19/07/2015 Rochdale Hornets Coventry Bears 3pm
• 16 26/07/2015 Swinton Lions Rochdale Hornets 3pm
• 17 02/08/2015 Rochdale Hornets South Wales Scorpions 3pm 
• 18 09/08/2015 Rochdale Hornets North Wales Crusaders 3pm
• 19 16/08/2015 Oxford RLFC Rochdale Hornets 3pm
• 20 23/08/2015 Rochdale Hornets Keighley Cougars 3pm
• 21 05/09/2015 Barrow Raiders Rochdale Hornets 6.30pm
• 22 13/09/2015 Rochdale Hornets London Skolars 3pm

Home dates/times subject to member approval.

Hornets will play Hunslet Hawks in the Supporters Direct Shield match on Sunday 8 February at Spotland Stadium and will also face NCL Premier outfit Thatto Heath Crusaders on Sunday 15 February (both 3pm kick offs).

A further friendly will be announced in due course, provisionally set for 1 February at Spotland Stadium.

Despite numerous requests from Rochdale Hornets, Oldham Roughyeds have not accepted the invitation from Rochdale to discuss contesting the Law Cup in pre-season but it is hoped that the 1 February will be a 'marquee' friendly.