REPORT | Rochdale Hornets 46 Doncaster RLFC 28

The Dons fall to defeat against Rochdale Hornets in an exciting end to end match at the Crown Oil Arena.

The Dons dominated the opening 10 minutes of the game. With lots of early dropped ball by Rochdale and powerful work in defence from the Dons allowing them to apply all the early pressure. 

Tom Halliday opened the scoring in spectacular fashion on 7 minutes has he dived over in the corner.  

Connor Robinson putting the conversion just wide.

However, Rochdale broke through the Dons defence after eleven  minutes when McNally broke through the Dons defence to put Jy Hitchcox in for a try.  Scrum half Sheridan converted successfully.  

Rochdale were now forcing their way into the game, and it paid off after seventeen minutes as Sheridan placed a perfect ball through for Ben Calland to collect and touch down at the side of the posts.  Sheridan converted to make the score 12-4.  

The Dons were back in the game on the 24^th minute as powerful centre Jason Talie dived over the Rochdale line following great work by the forwards as they barged their way through from inside their own half.  

Straight from the kick off the Dons scored again with a length of the field try finished by full back Ben Howe, however, following consultation between the referee and touch judge the try was disallowed and play brought back to 10 metres from the Dons line and prop Ben Mathiou was sin binned for an altercation at the play the ball.  

Rochdale took advantage of the man extra as both Hitchcox and Calland added to their accounts as Rochdale strectched the twelve man Dons defence.  

In the 39^th minute the Dons forced their way back into the game as Ollett-Hobson forced his way over following great work from Tali.  Robinson successfully converted to make the score 20-16 at half-time.  

Half-time | Rochdale Hornets 20 Doncaster RLFC 16  

The Dons again dominated the opening 10 minutes of the half and they made their domination pay after only 4 minutes when Aaron York went over.  Robinson converted to put the Dons in the lead 22-20.  

In the 49^th minute Kobi Poching took advantage of a Rochdale knock on as he picked up the ball and touched down under the posts. Connor Robinson again converted. 

The early domination was to no avail however, as Rochdale forced their way back into the game with two quick fire tries from Sheridan and Aspey,  

The Hornets were now dominating and breaking the Dons line regularly resulting in tries for Hitchcox (completing his hat-trick), Forster and Green to stretch their lead to 46-28.

The Dons rallied late on but to no avail and the final score finished 46-28.  

Full-time | Rochdale Hornets 46 Doncaster RLFC 28