Report: Swinton Lions 8-12 Rochdale Hornets

Rochdale Hornets got their 2026 Betfred Championship campaign underway with a 12-8 comeback win at local rivals Swinton Lions.

After a pre-season win over Goole Vikings seven days prior, confidence was high in the Hornets camp going into the season opener, with the Round 1 clash coming in the pressure cooker of a local derby.

The opening stages were cagey in tough conditions as neither side managed to find an early breakthrough, though it was the hosts who came closest to breaking the deadlock. 

They couldn’t turn field position into points, however, following consecutive sets inside the Hornets 20m area.

Scoring opportunities were few and far between as neither side threatened, but the deadlock was broken midway into the first half as Swinton received a penalty 15m from goal which Jack Stevens slotted between the posts.

Soon after, the visitors almost got themselves in front as Dan Nixon did well to take a high kick under pressure, but he couldn’t keep hold of the ball and gave possession back to the Lions. 

A late blow for Gary Thornton’s side came just before half-time as second-rower Matty Unsworth was taken off the field on a stretcher following a lengthy stoppage.

Rochdale wasted no time at the start of the second half and were soon in front thanks to two quickfire penalty goals from Max Flanagan to make it 4-2, before Paul Wood’s side got themselves back in front as Jamie Reddecliff pounced on a loose ball to score.

Stevens added the extras to make it a four-point game in Swinton’s favour.

Ten minutes from time, and it was Rochdale who took back the advantage as Ethan Wood got over in the corner before Flanagan converted in driving rain.

That score proved to be a momentum shifter in the closing stages as the Hornets continued to pose a threat, with the final action of the game coming right before the final hooter as Flanagan scored another penalty to seal the deal and ensure the two points would be heading back to Rochdale. 

Swinton Lions: Roberts, Parkinson, Jones, Lynch, Higham, Stevens, Ratchford, Shingler, Openshaw, Reddecliff, Willis, Rodden, T. Kelly-Duffy. Subs: Brown, Beardsworth, Roby, Meadows.

Tries: Reddecliff

Goals: Stevens (2)

Rochdale Hornets: Flanagan, Boyd, Ashton, Sa’u, Nixon, Punchard, Dallimore, Dayes, Whitmore, D. Kelly-Duffy, Unsworth, Wood, Syme. Subs: Waterworth, Hatton, Andrade, Metcalfe.

Tries: Wood

Goals: Flanagan (4)

Post-match reaction