Before a ball has even been wellied over the Sandy Lane stand, Dale Boss Alan Buckley is showing his ignorance of Rugby League and disparaging the exciting, flowing football that Martin Hall's Hornets have played this season.

At a fans' forum last week, when asked what style of play his Dale side might be expected to produce he said: "If you want to see the ball kicked from one end of the field to the other, come down on a Sunday and watch the rugby."

As any and all Hornets supporters would be more than happy to point out, Martin Hall's side is renowned for playing adventurous, running Rugby League - not hoofing the ball down the field.

As Hornets struggle to motivate Rochdale's apathetic sporting public to get off its collective backside to come and watch the team that's joint top of the National League, Buckley's comment only serves to reinforce the misconception that Rugby League isn't a fast, complex, competitive, high action contact sport - and that Hornets play a rudimentary, skill-less game that is boring to watch. Which undermines Hornets' efforts to generate interest in our game in the town and does more harm than good.

Of course, Buckley could well have mistaken Rugby League for the kickfest, punt & grunt of Rugby Union. Which would make him even more stupid than he looks.

Here at rochdalehornets.com, we suggest that he himself comes '...down on a Sunday to watch the rugby (sic)...' so that he can make such comments knowing what he's talking about.

We play Leigh in a top of the table clash on Sunday, Alan. Come and sit with us, mate, and see what life at the top is really like.