Tough weekend
ROCHDALE Hornets head coach Alan Kilshaw admits this weekend will be a tough test for his side as they prepare for two games in quick succession.
Hornets were set to host Sheffield Eagles at the Crown Oil Arena on Friday as the Observer went to print, before they then make the trip to Swinton Lions on Easter Monday.
They headed into those matches on the back of a 38-36 defeat to Batley Bulldogs last Sunday, after Hornets suffered a disappointing collapse and conceded three tries in the last six minutes.
They will be looking to bounce back during this busy period, and Kilshaw has put plans in place to try and ensure his side are at the best of their ability.
“We rested as many players as we could last weekend and didn’t risk anyone, so now we have some players available on dual registration who will bring the experience that we need,” he said.
“We’ll freshen things up and give them as much recovery time as we can, but every team in the division is in the same boat.
“There will be an alcohol ban in place after Friday’s game, along with massage physios available to the players over the weekend.
“We’ll come in Sunday and see how we are and then prepare for the second game of the weekend against Batley.
“There were some harsh words said to the players this week regarding last Sunday’s game, but we’ve put that to bed now and I’m glad it’s been a quick turnaround.”
Ahead of the game with Sheffield on Friday, Hornets sat in seventh place in the Kingstone Press Championship table, having won three, lost five and drawn one of their nine games so far this season.
Kilshaw has been pleased with some aspects of the campaign so far, but admits he thinks the team can get better.
“We want to aim as high as possible. We’d be higher up the division if we had been smarter for some of the defeats this season,” he said.
“We’ve had four away games so far. We won at Bradford and Featherstone, challenged London and then nearly beat Batley, so we can take that as a position going into the next phase of the season.
“It doesn’t matter where you are at the moment as anybody can beat anybody.
“After Easter we’ll have played everyone once, but I’m confident we can get higher.
“I’m focusing on performances this weekend because if we put in a good performance then the outcome will look after itself.”
Friday’s game with Sheffield was set to be Rochdale’s first match back at the Crown Oil Arena since the emphatic 52-14 defeat to Toulouse Olympique earlier this month.
Kilshaw was disappointed with his players in that game, and was keen for them to reward the fans with a good showing against Sheffield.
“We want to repay the support we got from the fans in our last home game against Toulouse, as we were disgraceful in that game,” said the Hornets chief.
“I’m confident in our players to bounce back though as they’ve got a lot of fire in their belly and are a mentally tough group.
“It’s a tough competition and we’re in a tough period of games at the moment playing full time teams, but I back the lads to respond well.”
Kilshaw has been forced to call on four dual-registration players again, with Jack Johnson keeping his place at fullback while Matty Blythe and Lee Mitchell make their second appearance for the club.
A new name on the team sheet is Taylor Prell, as the code-switching winger comes in just weeks after joining the Wolves. Lewis Palfrey and Josh Crowley are set to return, with Chris Riley and Miles Greenwood hoping to be fit for their Easter Monday clash with local rivals Swinton.