Basement Bulls still dangerous
HORNETS travel to Bradford Bulls tomorrow as Championship league-leaders, facing a side at the very foot of the table.
Yes, we are only one week into the new season – but the Bulls are propping up the division, 12 points behind their nearest rivals after being hit by a points deduction for going into liquidation in the off-season.
That means there is a 14-point gap between the two clubs going into this weekend’s clash, after the Hornets dismantled Dewsbury Rams in their season opener at the Crown Oil Arena.
Rochdale were electric in their 46-0 win over the Rams, as they put together some brilliant free-flowing rugby to run in eight unanswered tries.
There was a first-half brace for hooker Ben Moores, with Samir Tahraoui and Danny Yates scoring either side of his double, while Jo Taira, Rob Massam, Lewis Galbraith and Ryan Maneely found their way over in the second period. Lewis Palfrey captained the side for the first time after his switch from Oldham in pre-season, and on his competitive debut added seven goals.
His side carried seven debutants on the day, which included Danny Bridge and man of the match Garry Middlehurst who are both in their second spell for the club.
Their next opponents have had a torrid time off the field and were comfortably beaten by Hull KR at Craven Park last week, with the title favourites winning 54-24.
Bradford will have taken a lot of positives from the game though, and the Rochdale boss believes it will be a tough trip to make on Sunday.
“It’s going to be a tough game with a hostile environment and it’s going to be a strange one,” continued Kilshaw.
“It’s their first game back at Odsal since all the off-season drama for Bradford, so they will turn up and the fans will be behind them. We don’t want to be that story, we don’t want to be the first team Bradford beat. We know we’re going to have to work hard to go there and win.
“They’re starting behind but they’re only going to get better week in week out, but so are we.”
‘It’s going to be a tough game and it’s going to be strange’