Hornets suffer cup humbling
WHITEHAVEN ............... 38 HORNETS .......................... 0
ROCHDALE Hornets were consigned to a sixth straight defeat on Sunday, as they were convincingly beaten by League 1 side Whitehaven RLFC.
The visitors were out enthused and out played for the majority of the contest, and as a result missed out on a chance to make the last 16 of the Challenge Cup.
Alan Kilshaw welcomed back Gary Middlehurst, Dec Gregory and Lee Mitchell following a rest, while Matty Hadden featured for the first time since the opening fixture of the season.
With Lewis Palfrey still recovering from an infection which hospitalised him, Deon Cross moved into the halves as Billy Brickhill started in the centres.
Hornets went into the break 18-0 down, despite having the better of the first quarter of the game and being a man up for 10 minutes.
Ben Moores limped off in the opening minute of the contest, before Marc Shackley was held up over the line.
Carl Forster was sent to the sin bin on 14 minutes for a late challenge, however the visitors couldn’t make the man advantage tell.
Instead the 12-men of Whitehaven opened the scoring with a penalty goal via the boot of Dan Abram, before Callum Phillips stepped past a tackle to dart over for the first try of the game.
Another penalty on the half hour mark made it 10-0, with Phillips stepping his way to a second try five minutes from the break.
On the brink of halftime, a Danny Yates kick was collected by Jessie Joe Parker, with the centre racing into the Rochdale half before being hauled down. Dave Allen held on too long, and after a coming together of the players he was sent to the sin bin.
With the hooter sounding, Abram opted to add another two points from in front, making it a dream start for the League 1 outfit.
The second half started as the first ended, with Haven breaking from a Yates kick – this time it resulted in a try as Danny Green raced away, with Abram crossing in support.
Four straight penalties resulted in Lewis Reece spending 10 minutes in the sin bin, as Hornets had a man advantage once again. They almost made their advantage pay, but Deon Cross was denied a walk-in try due to a forward pass.
Then, on 58 minutes the tie was put beyond doubt as Connor Holliday was handed a gift by Dec Kay, as the fullback attempted to kick the ball dead but instead laid a try on for the substitute.
Dion Aiye then broke the line five minutes late, laying on a score for Parker to make it 36-0 to the hosts.
Earl Hurst then gave a penalty away in possession for crossing, and Abram added two points to the score line with a penalty goal from close range.
Hornets tried to find a way over with some desperate play, however it all came to nothing as they were shut out by their League 1 opponents.
HAVEN: Dan Abram, Danny Green, Chris Taylor, Jason Mossop, Dave Thompson, Dion Aiye, Callum Phillips, Marc Shackley, James Tilley, Kris Coward, Liam Cooper, Ellis Gillam, Carl Forster. Subs: Lewis Brown, Lewis Reece, Jessie Joe Parker, Connor Holliday.
TRIES: Phillips (22, 35), Abram (42), Holliday (58), Parker (63) Goals: Abram 9/9
HORNETS: Dec Kay, Richard Lepori, Billy Brickhill, Earl Hurst, Taylor Welch, Deon Cross, Danny Yates, Luke Adamson, Ben Moores, Lee Mitchell, Toby Adamson, Dave Allen, Gary Middlehurst. Subs: Dec Gregory, Lewis Hatton, Matty Hadden, Joe Taira.