Manchester Evening News

Hornets miss out to Wolfpack by single point

- By TOM BRAMWELL @MENSports

ROCHDALE were agonisingl­y beaten 18-17 by Toronto Wolfpack as ex-Salford full-back Gareth O’Brien made his debut for the Canadian side.

Hosts Hornets took the lead inside the first two minutes when Earl Hurst gathered Lewis Palfrey’s kick on the last tackle and touched down, but Liam Kay levelled soon after.

Gary Middlehurs­t’s try gave the home side a 12-6 lead at the break and Rob Massam extended it 10 minutes after the interval, but Josh McCrone quickly hit back for the Wolfpack.

And when a melee saw Palfrey, O’Brien and Kay all sent to the sin bin, it was Toronto with their 11 men who broke through Rochdale’s 12 – Reni Maitua levelling the scores. Morgan Smith slotted a drop-goal, but Ryan Brierley’s penalty in the closing stages snatched victory for the Wolfpack.

Swinton-born forward Will Hope is in line to make his Lions debut when the London Broncos arrive at Heywood Road tomorrow afternoon, while Leigh will look to build on last week’s Challenge Cup victory over Batley when they take on Dewsbury.

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