Report: Rochdale Hornets 22-28 Midlands Hurricanes

Rochdale Hornets fell to a tight defeat at the hands of Midlands Hurricanes, leaving the Hornets winless in their last four Betfred Championship matches.

There was a Hornets debut for Wigan Warriors loanee Lukas Mason, who came straight into the side in the second row. Off-season recruit Jordan Paga also featured for the club for the first time, having suffered a broken leg during pre-season. 

The other major change in the starting 13 saw captain Ross Whitmore move from hooker to loose forward.

For the visitors, there were returns to the Crown Oil Arena for Aiden Roden and Lewis Else, the latter leaving the club at the end of 2025 season. 

The visitors wasted no time and were on the scoresheet after just five minutes, a floated kick to the corner plucked out of the air by Aidan McGowan to score.

It didn’t take for long for Rochdale to respond, and they were level moments later after winning a penalty inside the Hurricanes 10m following a knock on. From the resulting set, a quick passing move found Dan Nixon, who dotted the ball down in the corner.

Midlands’ six-point advantage was re-established just before the quarter hour mark as Matty Chrimes muscled his way through the Hornets defence to score, before Sully Medforth increased the lead to eight points.

Just after the midway point of the half, the Hornets had their second as captain Whitmore burrowed his way over from close range, with Max Flanagan kicking the goal from underneath the sticks.

Just like the previous time Rochdale pulled the deficit back to two points, it didn’t take long for the Hurricanes to restore an eight-point gap, this time thanks to Toby Warren who crashed over in the corner.

Mark Dunning’s side started to take a grip on the game in the closing stages of the first half and had the bulk of the play, but the home side did well to keep them at bay. 

They did, however, concede a penalty on the stroke of half-time, with Medforth electing to kick for goal and extend his side’s lead to 10 points.

The home side came out of the blocks racing at the start of the second period and enjoyed three consecutive set restarts deep inside the Midlands half, but they couldn’t turn this sustained pressure into points and gave possession away during their fourth repeat set.

Just prior to the hour mark, the away side were reduced to 12 men as Oliver Roberts was sent to the sin bin following interference at the play the ball.

Gary Thornton’s side made the extra man count, and following a looping pass over the top of the Midlands defence, Nixon leapt over in the corner to grab a brace. Flanagan nailed a tough conversion to make it a four-point ball game.

Medforth added two more points to his tally and extended his side’s lead after the Hornets conceded a penalty on their own line, with the stand-off opting to keep the scoreboard ticking with the boot.

McGowan had his second of the afternoon straight from the restart as he went on a barnstorming run down the wing to stretch the gap to 10 points again, before Medforth put them two scores ahead with the conversion.

There was something for the home crowd to cheer just before the final hooter sounded, as Nixon broke away down the wing before passing inside to Jack Hansen, who in-turn found TJ Boyd, with the winger juggling the ball before finishing.

It proved to be nothing more than a consolation, however, as the Hurricanes took the two points in Round 7.

With another home game against Goole Vikings next week, Gary Thornton’s men will hope to re-discover their early season form and return to winning ways.

Rochdale Hornets: Flanagan, Nixon, Taylor, Sa’u, Boyd, Dallimore, Hansen, Dayes, Waterworth, Kelly-Duffy, Wood, Mason, Whitmore. Bench: Paga, Hatton, Coleman, Reid.

Tries: Nixon (2), Whitmore, Boyd

Goals: Flanagan (3)

Midlands Hurricanes: Horner, Chrimes, Johnson, McGowan, Roberts, Medforth, Else, Luke-Kirby, Roden, Dickinson, Wilkinson, Warren, Wood. Bench: Newboult, Shaw, Silk, Roberts.

Tries: McGowan (2), Chrimes, Warren

Goals: Medforth (6)

Post-match reaction