Mistakes prove costly for Dale
O’hanlon can’t wait to get going with Hornets
ROCHDALE Hornets have announced the signing of Ethan O’hanlon for the 2023 season.
O’hanlon becomes the second player to switch Hunslet for Rochdale this week, after the arrival of hooker Cam Berry on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old is revelling at the chance to be a part of Gary Thornton’s squad for 2023.
O’hanlon said: “It’s a pleasure to have been given this opportunity and I can’t wait to get stuck in.
“The lads have had an impressive 2022, and I’m confident we can build on that next year, and compete at the top of League 1 once again.”
Like Berry, the prop forward came through the Bradford Bulls academy before making the switch to the South Leeds Stadium, where he was very impressive under Alan Kilshaw.
As a result, Hornets head coach Thornton is thrilled that O’hanlon has decided to play his rugby in Rochdale next season.
He said: “Ethan is a promising young prop forward, who stepped up to League 1 level with ease last season.
“A former Bulls academy player, he was sought after by a number of clubs and I am absolutely delighted he has chosen to come to us.
“He’s a big robust front rower, and a real handful in the middle of the field. He will get us on the front foot with his aggressive carries and can defend tough too.
“He’s really looking forward to a new challenge this season, and I think Ethan will become a big fans favourite pretty quickly.”
Hornets chairman Andy Mazey is also excited by the potential of the club’s latest acquisition.
“Gary moved quickly to secure Ethan ahead of rival clubs and he is a very powerful 6ft 1in, 16 stone front-row man.
“Like Cam Berry, he now has plenty of League One experience under his belt having originally came through the talent conveyor belt at Bradford Bulls.
“It’s exciting to see the 2023 pack taking shape and I know Ethan is the type of tough, uncompromising, player our supporters will take to their hearts. Welcome to Hornets, Ethan.”
To sponsor O’hanlon in 2023, contact Steve.kerr@ hornetsrugbyleague.com
Squad announced so far: Nixon, Killan, Purcell, Connolly, Swarbrick, Boardman, Berry, O’hanlon.
AMILD afternoon at Powder House Lane saw Dale take on old rivals Vale of Lune. The pitch was in perfect condition for what promised to be a good game of running rugby.
Following a series of deep kicks and counter kicks which seem to be the hallmark of modern rugby, it was Vale who grasped the initiative.
After a Dale scrum on their own 22 the ball went loose and despite a try line tackle from full back Josh Schofield Vale went in for a try on 10 minutes the conversion was missed 5-0.
A good response from Dale saw a great passing move, finding Pat Gillan on the right wing he beat his man and passed inside to the League’s leading try scorer Josh Schofield who completed the move by the posts, Keelan Bradley had no trouble converting to make it 5-7 with 15 minutes gone.
Within minutes of the re-start Vale had the visitors under pressure and the first of many uncharacteristic dropped passes led to the Vale fly half taking the ball through the defence to score a good solo try 10-7.
An even contest with Dale having plenty of ball but too many unforced errors led to the penalty count from the fussy referee growing in the home side’s favour.
A promising move by Vale ended in a dropped ball and a scrum to Dale, Bradley got the clearance kick away but was tackled late which led to the Vale wing forward seeing a yellow card.
A great opportunity for Dale with a man advantage at the scrums of which there were many but lose passes and penalties saw the home side on the attack.
A scrum on the Dale 10 metre line saw the ball go wide and the Vale winger go in for their third try which was converted 17-7 with only minutes to go until half time.
Then a nightmare series of moves saw a deep kick from the Vale fly half kept in play by Tom Hindle only to see the ball mishandled twice, the second by Schofield under his own posts the ball being passed out wide by a grateful Vale back leaving a soft try for the winger in the corner the kick was missed so half time had Dale facing a 22-7 deficit.
The second half saw a bright start by Dale with Ollie Coldman chipping over the Vale defence forcing the full back to touch down behind his own try line, the drop out made the 22 but Dale were given a penalty for offside.
In the resultant maul Bradley’s kick took the visitors to the Vale 5 metre line but again a sloppy knock on saw the ball lost.
The next action saw the Vale centre yellow carded for a deliberate knock on so advantage Dale.
The penalty took them to the 10 metre line, this time no mistake as 2nd row Eddie Shanks crashed over to score a well deserved try converted by Bradley 22-14.
Game on as Ross Hartley and debutant James O’connell joined the action.
Despite the number of scrums Dale kept pressing and soon won a penalty.
Aidy Gleeson broke through the tiring Vale defence and passed inside to Tom Hindle who scored a fine try, unfortunately the kick went wide so 22-19
In this see-saw game another twist came when minutes after scoring his try Hindle was yellow carded for an offence in the scrum, Vale missed the very kickable penalty.
Despite Vale slowing the play down and collapsing a number of scrums the referee did not intervene and it was from another line out on half way that Chris Hodgkinson took the catch and set Shanks on his way, well supported by Danny Joesbury and Gleeson, the final pass went astray on the 22 so another chance went begging.
Ross Hartley was always in the thick of the action and was hurt in a tackle on half way, the play carried on and only a good take by the Vale No.10 saved the day.
There was more defending to do as Vale tried their own attack snuffed out by good tackles from O’connell and Hartley.
Foster was next on the casualty list with a head wound resulting in a delay in play whilst both physios dealt with him.
A promising move from the backs saw Josh Schofield draw defenders but the final pass to wing Gillan went down, the story of Dale’s afternoon.
More penalties followed mostly to the home side, the final word going to their No.10 who kicked high into touch on half way for the referee to blow the final whistle.
A good second half performance from Dale but too many mistakes in the first cost them the points.
Next week is a home game against Wilmslow.