Hornets are sunk by high scoring Lo
ROCHDALE Hornets suffered defeat at the hands of Sheffield Eagles for the second time this season, as Garry Lo ran in five tries to punish Alan Kilshaw’s men once again.
The wide man now has eight tries in the two meetings of the clubs as he was instrumental in their triumph at Belle Vue on Sunday afternoon.
Rochdale were looking to go back-toback for the first time since the opening two rounds of the season, but couldn’t match their second half performance against Oldham at the Summer Bash as they were well beaten by the Eagles.
The game was in the balance at the break as Jono smith’s try put the visitors within two points of their opponents, but three tries in seven minutes helped the home side open up a big lead and a lack of execution in attack saw Hornets come up short.
Lo opened the scoring after just five minutes as he stepped inside off the wing to charge over from close range, before he benefitted from a Miles Greenwood error for his second, pouncing on his knock-on in the in-goal area.
Although they gave away possession cheaply, Rochdale defended their line for their lives and got their rewards with the last play of the half, as Danny Yates’ perfectly weighted flat pass was met by the on rushing Smith who scored to the left of the sticks.
Lewis Palfrey had the last say of the half with the conversion, and at 8-6 the game was very much in the balance.
After the break though their hard work was undone, as Lo completed his hat-trick when he raced down the left edge from a floating cut-out ball and bumped off the attempted challenge of Chris Riley.
Menzie Yere was the next Eagles player over the try line as he strolled over from on three-on-one on the left edge, and when Lo broke from the kick-off to lay a try on for Jack Owens, Sheffield had opened up a 24-6 lead.
Elliot Minchella added to that on 62 minutes when he touched down Simon Brown’s grubber, before Rochdale were over straight from the kick-off, as the ball bounced kindly for Smith who sent Rob Massam over in the left corner.
With 10 minutes to play Massam was over again and gave the visitors a glimmer of hope, combining with Smith again to charge over from close range.
It wasn’t the start of a miraculous comeback though, as a late double from Lo saw him notch up five tries and round off a 38-14 triumph for his team.
Jack Owens, Garry Lo, Menzie Yere, Paddy Flynn, Ben Blackmore, Simon Brown, Elliot Minchella, Scott Wheeldon, Matthew Fozard, Mark Mexico, Matthew James, Duane Straugheir, William Hope Subs (all used): Gregory Burns, James Green, Sam Scott, Jordan Cox
Lo (5, 17, 44, 75, 80), Yere (49), Owens (51), Minchella (62)
Brown 3/8
Chris Riley, Miles Greenwood, Jake Eccleston, Lewis Galbraith, Rob Massam, Lewis Palfrey, Danny Yates, Jo Taira, Ryan Maneely, Gavin Bennion, Jono Smith, Jordan Case, Gary Middlehurst Subs (all used): Ben Moores, Matthew Hadden, Matty Blythe, Lee Mitchell Smith (39), Massam (64, 70)
Palfrey 1/3