Juma’s brilliance decisive in narrow away win
ROCHDALE HORNETS . 37 NW CRUSADERS ........... 36
ROCHDALE Hornets snatched a slender victory against North Wales Crusaders in a rollercoaster of a game at the Stadiwm CSM on Sunday.
head coach Gary Thornton recalled Myles Harrop and Max Flanagan in two changes to the starting thirteen who convincingly beat Newcastle Thunder last time out.
There was also a welcome return to the interchanges for Aiden Roden after a long injury lay-off.
The opening five minutes of this League One affair saw both teams battling for a territorial advantage through a plethora of high kicks from both sets of halfbacks which were comfortably claimed by both sets of players.
The first score of the game came after eight minutes, Hornets were penalised for an infringement in the ruck 20m out from their own line, and Owain Abel elected to take the two and slotted the kick through the posts, 2-0 to the hosts.
As the clock hit twelve minutes, Hornets hit the front through Myles Harrop.
The centre produced a great show-and-go dummy on halfway before stretching his legs to outpace Crusaders full-back Abel to cross. Ridyard converted to make it 6-2 to the Hornets.
On twenty minutes Crusaders hit back, a brilliant offload in the tackle released Dan Coates who sped past Max Flanagan to go over. Abel converted the try from the touchline, 8-6 to the hosts.
Four minutes later the Hornets got themselves back in front. Full-back Abel fumbled a high looping bomb from Ridyard which led to Connor Ratcliffe picking up the scraps before doing brilliantly to offload to Joe Hartley to slide over. Ridyard added the two, 8-12.
North Wales went straight back to the other end of the field to strike back at the Hornets. Off the back of a scrum, the ball was worked wide to Pat Ah Van who showed his strength to crash over in the corner.
Abel failed to convert from the touchline to tie the game up at 12-12.
Thirty-two minutes in saw the Crusaders get
themselves in front. After receiving two six-again’s from our referee, Crusaders took full advantage as Carl Foster dummied and dived over. Abel’s kick was again successful, 18-12 to the hosts.
In an end-to-end affair, it was the Hornets who got the next score of the afternoon. Lewis Else weaved his magic yet again to work it wide to Luke Forber who showcased his speed to crash over in the corner. Ridyard converted as he always does to yet again tie up the scores at eighteen a piece.
Right on the hooter, the ball was worked right down the middle to Ridyard who took the chance to fire over a drop goal to send the Hornets into the sheds with a half-time lead of one point, 18-19 to the Hornets at the break.
The hosts started the second half on the front foot, having held the Crusaders pack up multiple times, the Hornets
defence forced the knockon as North Wales looked to go through the hands. Good defence.
Off the platform of the defence, the Hornets struck again on fifty minutes. Great running from the forwards provided an opportunity for Myles Harrop to dance through the defence and grab his second of the game. Martyn Ridyard added the extras yet again, 25-18 now the lead.
Six minutes after the Hornets score, the Crusaders hit back. Off the back of a six again Joe Baldwin crashed over through the tackles. Abel adds the two, one-point ball game at 24-25.
The game continued with the fashion of ‘we score, you score’ as the Hornets struck again! Jaden Dayes powered over off the back of a good run to send the travelling support into raptures. Ridyard added the two, 31-24 to the Hornets.
In the sixty-seventh minute, the Crusaders hit back. After receiving another six again, Carl Forster crashed over. Abel converted again, 31-30 to the Hornets.
Three minutes later, the Crusaders completed the turnaround. With all the momentum behind them, Jake Burns shot over from dummy-half to score. Abel added the two, 36-31 to the hosts.
With five minutes left, Lameck Juma produced something out of this world! With four Crusaders defenders climbing on his back, Lameck produced superhuman strength to pump his legs and touch down in the corner. Ridyard added the two as per usual. 37-36 to the Hornets.
It was all hands to the pump for the Hornets in the final five minutes as North Wales threw everything they had at the Rochdale defence but they stood firm throughout with the sound of the hooter greeted by huge celebrations on the pitch and in the stands.
The one-point win lifts Rochdale Hornets to fourth in Betfred League One giving them a platform to build on for the rest of the season starting with next Sunday’s home fixture against league leaders Keighley Cougars.
Next up for Hornets, they host Keighley Cougars in a fourth versus second clash tomorrow in the Betfred League One at Crown Oil Arena. Tickets are now on sale online at hornetsrugbyleague. co.uk. Adults - £17, Concessions - £12, Rochdale AFC ST Holders - £10, Students - £7, U16’s - Free. Tickets can also be purchased on matchday from the main reception. ROCHDALE HORNETS: Flanagan, Juma, Harrop, Hartley, Forber, Ridyard, Else, Killan, Flanagan, Bent, Forster, Ratcliffe, Whittel. Interchanges: Roden, Andrade, Dayes, Meadows
TRIES: Harrop x2, Hartley, Forber,
Dayes, Juma
Ridyard 6/6
Ridyard