MATCH REPORT: MIDLANDS HURRICANES: 28 – 38 ROCHDALE HORNETS

A historic day for the Hurricanes, but no opening day win at The Alex

REPORT BY CHARLIE LYNCH

The Hurricanes made history on Sunday as they (and our visitors, Rochdale Hornets) strode through the players' tunnel onto the pitch of THE Alexander Stadium for the first time. Notwithstanding the buzz and fervour of the occasion, there was only one thing on their minds of both teams – that all important first league victory of the season.

This was, of course, not the first time the two sides had met this season - a highly contested Challenge Cup tie last month (of which the Hornets emerged 24-20 victors), as well as two closely fought league games in 2023, left both sides in no doubt of the challenge they faced to leave the Alex with the two points.

It was Rochdale who struck first, with a dominant first quarter leaving the Canes with a lot of work to do early on. The Hornets forced an attacking Jason Bass into touch, earning an important turnover in the Canes half. Rochdale took full advantage as they played the ball from the left-hand side of the field all the way to a prepared Tommy Brierley on the right wing, who simply strolled over the try line in the 5th minute (0-4). Martyn Ridyard's conversion attempt struck the post.

Just under ten minutes later, Rochdale mounted another fast-paced attack from left to right, with veteran fullback Gregg McNally taking matters into his own hands and pulling off a delightful dummy to evade the oncoming defence and score (0-8). Ridyard's conversion was successful (0-10).

It looked like it could be a long afternoon for the Canes as the Hornets went back-to-back, with McNally making an incisive run straight through the heart of the Hurricanes defence to dive on a deft grubber for Rochdale's third (0-14). This was conversion once again (0-16).

Our fortunes improved, however, as the Hurricanes turned up the heat and mounted a sustained barrage on the Hornets and eventually the right side of the field opened up for Jason Bass to collect a Matty Welham offload and leap like a salmon across the try line (4-16). Brad Billsborough's conversion was narrowly missed.

It was then time for the Canes to go back-to-back as Danny Barcoe replicated his efforts at the Crown Oil Arena last month and scooted over from dummy-half to crash over the line (8-16). Billsborough added the extras from in front of the sticks (10-16).

With less than ten minutes until half-time, it was the Hornets who extended their lead as a break through the Hurricanes line resulted in Jonny Openshaw collecting a final pass to score on his debut (10-20). The subsequent conversion was successful (10-22).

The Hurricanes looked to have struck back immediately as some beautiful attacking play found Bass strolling over for his second, but a forward pass in the build-up halted the Hurricanes progress. The momentum was not over for us, however, as a flurry of quick hands down the left edge saw Inoke Nakoronivalu in open space to glide 30m down the left wing for his second try in as many games (14-22). On the hooter, Dave Hewitt finished the first half with a fantastic conversion from out wide (16-22).

Half-time: Midlands Hurricanes 16 – 22 Rochdale Hornets

The first ten minutes of the second saw neither team continue the high-scoring pattern of the first, but a notable sequence of impressive Matty Welham tackles saw the Hornets attacking plays snuffed out.

It was the Hurricanes who broke the stalemate as Jason Bass somehow kept the ball from going with him into touch, with Matty Welham diving on the offload to keep our momentum going. Following their heroics, Brad Billsborough was able to break the Hornets defensive line and pass out wide to Tom Wilkinson who rolled over to score (20-22). Billsborough converted Wilkinson's try to draw us level for the first time (22-22).

Unfortunately, Rochdale reacquired the momentum they had in the first half as another 15-minute period saw them obtain a further 16-point lead over the home side. The Hornets first fired back with a Duane Straugheir surge over the try line albeit it looked as if his progress had been stopped by a number of Hurricanes defenders (22-26). Rudd converted from in front of the sticks (22-28).

Following a frustrating knock-on in our half, Jonny Openshaw got his second of the afternoon as an impressive turn of pace caught the Hurricanes off guard (22-32), with the conversion following shortly thereafter (22-34).

The Hornets missed a drop-goal attempt a couple of minutes later, however this would ultimately not matter as Joe Hartley coasted through the Hurricanes defence to score down the right edge and seemingly put the game to bed (22-38). The Hornets could not add the extras.

With less than five minutes to go, Tom Wilkinson capped off an impressive performance as he scored a consolation try for his second of the afternoon, with an impressive charge seeing him crash through the middle of the field and over a number of Hornets defenders (26-38). Billsborough added the two from in front of the sticks (28-38).

The full-time whistle blew shortly thereafter. A truly entertaining and hard-fought match up saw the Hornets go home the victors, but even a debut loss in our new stadium could not take the shine off what was a momentous day for the Hurricanes.

We now turn our attention to next Sunday's clash against Newcastle Thunder at none other than THE Alexander Stadium – the home of the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Make sure you're there to cheer on the lads as tickets are available now! You can buy your tickets HERE. 

MATCH FACTS:

MIDLANDS HURRICANES

1.Todd Horner

5.Jason Bass

3. Matty Welham

4. Ross Oakes

25. Inoke Nakoronivalu

14. Brad Billsborough

7. David Hewitt

8. Jon-Luke Kirby

9. Daniel Barcoe

24. Marcus Green

15. Aaron Willis

11. Tom Wilkinson

13. Brad Clavering

INTERCHANGES

Peceli Suguvanua

Lewis Peachey

Kieran Moran

Chris Cullimore

18th man- Elliot Windley

Tries: Bass (22), Barcoe (24) Nakoronivalu (38) Wilkinson (52,77)

Goals: Hewitt (1/1) Billsborough (3/4)

ROCHDALE HORNETS

1. Gregg McNally

5. Tommy Brierley

4. Joe Hartley

3. Myles Harrop

2. Dan Nixon

6. Martin Ridyard

7. Lewis Else

10. Luke Nelmes

25. Matty Rudd

20. Toby Brannan

11. Ben Forster

18. Deane Meadows

12. Duane Straugheir

Interchanges:

Jonny Openshaw

Jordan Andrade

Brad Brennan

Ben Killan

18th man- Luke Forber

Tries: Brierley (5) McNally (14,18) Openshaw (32, 66) Straugheir (61) Hartley (72)

Goals: Ridyard- (4/5) Rudd (1/2)

MAN OF THE MATCH:

Daniel Barcoe

PENALTY COUNT:

Midlands Hurricanes - 10

Rochdale Hornets - 7

Half-time: 16-22

Attendance: 465

Scoring Sequence: 0-4, 0-8, 0-10, 0-14, 0-16, 4-16, 8-16, 10-16, 10-20, 10-22, 14-22, 16-22, 20-22, 22-22, 22-26, 22-28, 22-32, 22-34, 22-38, 26-38, 28-38.