Derby date with
ROCHDALE Hornets round off their regular season with a trip to Bower Fold, as they take on neighbours Oldham in the final game before the Championship Shield.
There is still plenty to play for too, as a victory will keep their hopes of finishing eighth alive, which will secure four home games in the next stage of the season.
It will also hinge on the visit of Sheffield Eagles to Dewsbury Rams, as they will be hoping for a win from the visitors so they can leapfrog the Rams.
Hornets were sitting eighth before they faced London Broncos at The Crown Oil Arena, but were comfortably beaten 58-18 by the club from the capital.
It was a second half shutout as the hosts couldn’t improve on the points they posted in the first period, with tries from Jake Eccleston, Lewis Foster and Rob Massam being improved by the boot of Danny Yates.
Defensively, Rochdale were off, something which hasn’t happened many times so far this season, but amid the disappointment Alan Kilshaw wanted to focus on their clash with the Roughyeds.
“We won’t review the loss too much,” admitted the Hornets head coach.
“We have a big game against Oldham, I know they will be up for it, and there’s a lot riding on it.
“If we can get another two points on the board before the split and ahead of the week off it will stand us in good stead for the Championship Shield.”
This week’s opponents were beaten by Sheffield 42-28, leaving the Roughyeds just one point above the drop-zone.
It was a 13 try thriller, but the Eagles proved too strong in the end as Garry Lo helped himself to a hat-trick, just like he did in his two meetings with Rochdale this season.
In the previous meetings of these two clubs the Hornets have come out on top in two out of the three clashes, with the other ending in a draw.
The first meeting took place at Bower Fold, as Lewis Palfrey helped his side to a Law Cup victory over his former club.
Tries from Chris Riley, Jordan Case, Gary Middlehurst and Lewis Galbraith helped Hornets to a 24-12 win, as they lifted the trophy in front of their jubilant away following.
The next meeting was in the league, where a late raid from Rochdale saw them snatch a point in a 26-26 draw.
With five minutes left on the clock they trailed by 12 points, before Gavin Bennion charged over to half the deficit and give the hosts hope.
Then, Ryan Maneely darted over from dummy half to secure a point, as his side showed great character despite a disappointing performance.
The last meeting came at the Summer Bash, where Kilshaw’s men blew their opponents away with a brilliant second half display to round off a 38-28 triumph.
Eccleston crossed for a first half double after Miles Greenwood had scored their first try, before Massam, Ben Moores, Case and Galbraith picked up scores in the second 40 to complete the win.
Middlehurst will still be missing for the next meeting of the two clubs, but
‘We have a big game against Oldham. They will be up for it and there’s a lot riding on it’
Riley, Greenwood and Palfrey will be in contention.
Massam will be assessed following a knock in the defeat to London, as the Hornets top try scorer didn’t return for the second half.