Report: Keighley Cougars 22-34 Rochdale Hornets

Rochdale Hornets picked up their first win at Cougar Park for five years with a dominant performance against Keighley.

After a week away following the Challenge Cup final, Gary Thornton’s side were eager to get back to action following the dramatic comeback win over local rivals Swinton 14 days ago.

Jamie Dallimore, having just signed a new one-year deal to stay at the Crown Oil Arena in 2027, returned to the side following suspension, while Junior Sa’u and Lewis Hatton returned to their former club for the first time since leaving West Yorkshire for Lancashire at the end of 2025. There was also a Hornets debut for new signing Mark Ioane, with the experienced forward also returning to the place he called home last year.

After a tight opening ten minutes, it was Rochdale who drew first blood as Jordan Paga ducked under the Keighley defence to score before Max Flanagan added the extras.

It was another try just moments later, Chris Barratt created the space after a rapid break before handing the ball inside to Jack Hansen, who finished the job before Flanagan slotted over another simple kick.

The travelling supporters didn’t have to wait long to see their side go over the line again, this time thanks to the mercurial Jamie Dallimore, who sliced through the defence from close range with Flanagan maintaining his perfect record from the tee.

Right on the stroke of half-time, the home side gave themselves a lifeline thanks to Aaron Brown, who found his way over before Matty Beharrell added the extras.

Gary Thoronton’s side wasted no time at the start of the second half, and following Beharrell’s kick off going out on the full, the away side took full advantage of their field position as Dallimore grabbed his second as he shot out from acting half to score.

A 20-point gap was opened ten minutes into the second period as Ethan Wood stretched for the line amongst a sea of bodies before Flanagan kicked the goal.

Dallimore had his hat-trick five minutes later in what was a near carbon copy of Wood’s score moments earlier, with Flanagan once again converting. 

Ian Hardman’s side got their second try of the afternoon as Brad Holroyd latched on to the end of a ball over the top of the Hornets defence to cut the arrears to 24 points.

A downside to Dallimore’s outstanding afternoon was his yellow card fifteen minutes from time, with the home side using their extra man advantage to full effect as Nathan Rushworth scored before Beharrell kicked his second goal of the afternoon from bang in front.

Belief started to grow amongst the home supporters that their side could mount an improbable comeback, and the gap was cut once more as George Flanagan stepped through the Hornets' defence to score before Beharrell cut the deficit to 12 with seven minutes to play. 

This, however, proved to be the last meaningful action of the contest as Rochdale secured a big two points to kickstart their run of away games, with an 1895 Cup semi-final on the Horizon followed by league trips to Newcastle and Goole to come.

Keighley Cougars: Sayner, Whitford, Proud, Clarke, Holroyd, Pickersgill, Beharrell, Teanby, G. Flanagan, Rushworth, Dean, Lanskey, Brown. Bench: Burton, Green, Schofield, Parker.

Tries: Brown, Holroyd, Rushworth, G. Flanagan

Goals: Beharrell (3/4)

Rochdale Hornets: M. Flanagan, Boyd, Sa’u, Ashton, Nixon, Dallimore, Hansen, Barratt, Paga, Dayes, Whitmore, Wood, Syme. Bench: Hatton, Roby, Coleman, Ioane

Tries: Paga, Hansen, Dallimore (3), Wood

Goals: Flanagan (5/6)

Gary Thornton reaction

Jamie Dallimore reaction