Promising show
ROCHDALE Hornets showed a huge improvement from their Law Cup defeat as they took on Warrington Wolves on Saturday afternoon, with the Super League side coming out on top 24-10.
Despite the defeat, the home side matched their opponents for large periods even though they only had one recognised halfback on the field.
Danny Yates took on the responsibility of leading the team around the field and stood up to the task well, as he caused problems with ball in hand and kicked well throughout.
Second rower Dave Allen was called upon as stand-off, stepping in admirably with Lewis Palfrey unavailable.
Rob Massam returned for his first appearance of 2018, while Alan Kilshaw handed a start to trialist Deon Cross in the centres who put in a solid performance.
The afternoon started perfectly, as Matty Hadden opened the scoring after just four minutes with the front rower crashing onto a flat ball and slamming the ball down over the whitewash. Yates added the extras for a 6-0 lead.
Wolves replied through Luis Johnson, as he was put through a hole in the defence by Morgan Smith and his clever pass at the line. Former NRL star Bryson Goodwin levelled the scores with the conversion.
Yates’ kicking game was causing headaches for the visitors, leading to Jack Hughes leaving a late hit on the halfback which resulted in the Warrington man being sin binned.
The hosts took full advantage and from the next set Ryan Maneely put his side back in front, as he burrowed his way over from dummy half for an unconverted try.
It was a lead which ultimately didn’t last, as the Wolves regained the kickoff and made their opponents pay with the help of a mistake from Declan Kay.
The fullback tried to race onto a difficult kick but could only spill it into the path of Harvey Livett who crossed for a simple score, which was improved by the boot of Goodwin.
The first period ended with another Warrington sin binning, this time it was Ben Westwood who was forced to sit out 10 minutes for dissent, as he disagreed with his try being chalked off for double movement.
Steve Price’s side emerged from the sheds desperate to improve on their first half showing, and they had Hornets under the pump in the opening exchanges.
Desperate defence from Lee Mitchell and Massam denied the away side, before they finally found a way over the try line through George King, as he was in support of his brother Toby’s break. Goodwin was again on target with the conversion as the lead was extended to eight points.
In the final quarter of the match Kilshaw introduced some youngsters to the contest, and Dec Gregory impressed with some clever runs from dummy half, while Blake Turner came up with some big hits in defence.
Yates almost started a Hornets fight back on 69 minutes when he plucked a Warrington pass out of the air to race away, however the retreating defence halted his attempt to go the full length.
With five minutes remaining the Super League side rounded off the scoring, as they put the ball through hands to give Taylor Prell a walk-in try on the left edge, with Goodwin keeping a 100 percent record with the boot to make it 24-10.
Hornets got through the game unscathed, and will be looking to have a big week in training ahead of their final pre-season fixture next Sunday at home to North Wales Crusaders.