ROCHDALE HORNETS 70 SOUTH WALES SCORPIONS 6

By Ian Golden at Spotlands

 

An understrength South Wales Scorpions side went down 70-6 to the unbeaten Rochdale Hornets on Sunday, with the league leaders maintaining their gap over nearest rivals Doncaster and Toulouse at the top of the table.

 

Mistakes were aplenty in the first five minutes as Rochdale looked to take the lead, and after three successive scrums, two for Rochdale, Dale Bloomfield scored in the corner and Paul Crook missed the kick.

 

They increased their lead on the quarter hour when Chris Riley was unmarked to catch the ball and score in the corner. Again the kick was missed.

 

The third try came five minutes later after a strong run from former Scorpion Samir Tahouroui, former Crusader Jono Smith went over for another unconverted try.

 

Scorpions struck back on 26 minutes when, after three successive penalties, Sion Jones raced over in the corner. Paul Emanuelli converted to bring the score back to 12-6.

 

Jono Smith, despite the efforts of the Scorpions’ backline, ran over for his second as soon as Rochdale regained the ball. Crook’s kicking boots were still not on and his fourth successive miss hit the post.

 

And they scored again straight from kick-off when Joe Philbin scored under the posts and Crook converted.

 

Sam Wilde soon followed him over and Crook, suddenly regaining his kicking boots, converted from the touchline.

 

And just before half-time, Danny Yates’ strong run and try, converted by Crook made the score 34-6.

 

It took 12 minutes for Rochdale to add to their lead, Crook slotting the ball in under the posts and converting himself.

 

He was quickly followed over by Rochdale stalwart Wayne English on his 150^th club appearance with Crook converting again. Chris Riley got the next try, which went unconverted, to bring up the 50 with Dale Bloomfield soon doing likewise.

 

Crook went in under the sticks and converted himself on 73 minutes to make the score 60-6. Further tries from Dale Bloomfield and Danny Yates, the latter improved by Crook, made it 70-6.

 

ROCHDALE

1              Wayne English

2              Dale Bloomfield

3              Michael Ratu

4              Lewis Galbraith

5              Chris Riley

6              Paul Crook

7              Danny Yates

8              Samir Tahraoui

9              Ben Moore

10           Warren Thompson

11           Jono Smith

12           Alex Trumper

13           James Tilley

SUBSTITUTES

14           Daniel Murray

15           Matty Hadden

16           Sam Wilde

17           Joe Philbin

 

TRIES     Jono Smith          (20, 30)

Danny Yates       (39, 77)

Paul Crook          (52, 72)

Chris Riley           (15, 58)

Dale Bloomfield                (62, 75, 5)

Wayne English   (55)

Sam Wilde           (37)

Joe Philbin          (33)

GOALS  Paul Crook          (34, 38, 40, 53, 56, 73, 78)

 

SCORPIONS

1              Jordan Sheridan

2              Ian Newbury

3              Scott Gregory

4              Christiaan Roets

5              Yannic Parker

6              Billy Gaylor

7              Paul Emanuelli

8              Bob Holroyd

9              Kristian Baller

10           Luke Nelmes

11           Sion Jones

12           Kyle Scrivens

13           Chris Vitalini

SUBSTITUTES

14           Zak Williams

15           Barrie Phillips

16           Martyn Reilly

17           Anthony Symons

 

TRIES     Sion Jones           (27)

GOALS  Paul Emanuelli   (28)

 

Attendance: 455

Referee : Tom Hudson