Rochdale add duo in bid to halt slide down the league table

ROCHDALE Hornets have added two new players and extended the loan of Jonah Cunningham until the end of the season as they fight to avoid relegation from the Betfred Championship.

Alan Kilshaw’s side dropped to the bottom of the table following defeat to local rivals Swinton at the Summer Bash in Blackpool last weekend, but have moved quickly to strengthen ahead of the rematch at Heywood Road on Sunday, recruiting former Workington Town forward Joe Ryan and handing a trial to England Academy back Jack Fox.

Hooker Cunningham, son of St Helens great Kieron, has impressed since arriving at the Crown Oil Arena from Leigh Centurions last month.

With Ben Moores and Dec Gregory injured, Rochdale were struggling in the dummy half position.

Since making his debut against Dewsbury Rams, Cunningham has been a constant in the Hornets side and scored his first try for the club in the defeat to the Lions.

Fox has been taken on trial to add strength in depth across the backline, as he is capable of covering both centre and wing.

Prop forward Ryan recently left Workington after struggling with the travel requirements and Kilshaw was delighted to get him on board.

“Once we discovered he was leaving Workington, we were interested,” said the Hornets boss. “He was in Warrington’s reserves last year, which was when he first came to our attention, and he has a few mates in the camp.

”It’s good to have him on board and start to get our numbers back up and he’s a skilful middle.”

WIDNES have sacked longserving head coach Denis Betts.

The 48-year-old former Wigan and Great Britain forward, who has been with the Vikings since November 2010, has paid the price for the club’s dreadful start to the season, an eighth consecutive defeat last Friday consigning them to bottom spot.