Hornets 36 Leigh 4 : details to followJim had this to say : New Hornets - New Danger
The new improved Rochdale Hornets sent a major shudder through the NFP yesterday as they trounced champions Leigh at Spotland. Few gave Hornets a hope at kick off, many realistically thinking that a major improvement on the 48-0 drubbing at Hilton Park would show how far we've come. How wrong they all were, as Hornets systematically dismantled a very ordinary Leigh outfit and exposed one or two supposed big names for the shirkers and bottlers that they really are.
With only six minutes on the clock, Latham Tawhai chipped an inch perfect kick into the in-goal corner. Marlon Billy made a mug of Ingram, outpacing him to the bouncing ball to put Hornets ahead.
Then, on the next foray into Leigh territory, Brendan O'Meara prised open their defence, but Warren Ayres failed to collect a pass that would have given him a walk in.
It was over half an hour before Leigh troubled the scorer, Kendrick diving in at the corner.
Almost on half time, Danny Wood put Hornets back in front, converting a penalty for gross stupidity. So, 6-4 and Hornets competing well against a stubborn Centurions. It was during the half time break that a Leigh director took time out to tell us that '...our lads are fitter and yours will tire'. We just thought that we had to score first.
What happened next will go down in Hornets folklore.
Four minutes in, Darren Robinson - back early from his broken jaw - went in at acting half five yards from the Leigh line. Danny Sculthorpe came steaming in, the Leigh defence tightened their sphincters and lined him up. Robbo said, 'thanks very much' and stepped through a huge hole for a trademark sneak. Woody added the extras.
Ten minutes later Matt Calland took centre stage. Firstly he took a sweet acting half pass fron Scully to crash in at the corner. Then, with Scully again playing provider, he took an inside pass before bludgeoning his way through three defenders to score by the posts. Two tries were just reward for an outstanding performance that saw him play Leigh second row Simon Baldwin into the floor and redcuce spindly wunderkinder Neil Turley to an ineffectual one-man sideshow.
Leigh were a busted flush. They made regular forays into Hornets territory, but the game plan of one bloke charging in and throwing the ball backwards over his head will only take you so far. They spluttered and stuttered and repeatedly coughed up the ball. Hornets suporters sang,"Give us the ball, you're boring" and Leigh obliged bang on cue.
With the time and the Leigh supporters ebbing away, Hornets sucked in for one last big effort.
Latham Tawhai and Joe Berry worked an impeccable runaround that carved open a huge hole for Danny Wood to speed through to score by the posts and, with seconds remaining, Leigh dropped a pass at the feet of wayne McHugh in their own 20 metre zone. He kicked through and showed real composure to tap the ball a second time, gather and score. Fantastic.
We all know that, this morning, that people will be saying that Leigh have switched off, but that's not the case. They stood to establish a new club record yesterday and, if I were a Leyther, I'd be peed off if I'd made the trip to see my team 'not try'.
So, stuff the sour grapes - this was a great win. Hornets at last fulfilled their potential and exposed sizeable chinks in Leigh's previously impenetrable armour.
Every player made a major contribution, but special mentions to Danny Sculthorpe, who made Leigh's props look like donkeys, Wes Rogers, who put in a mammoth tackling stint and - our man of the match - Matt Calland, who showed yet again that he's capable of taking the whole team forward on attck and defence.
After the game Paul Terzis said "it's only a hiccup for us - and a small one at that." It's the sound of a man whistling in the dark. This wasn't a hiccup, it was a total annhiliation.
The press had this to say :Rochdale Hornets produced a fantastic second-half performance to defeat Leigh 36-4.
The home side ran in five tries without reply in the second half as they simply ripped apart the Northern Ford Premiership champions.
The first half was evenly contested as a Marlon Billy try on six minutes was cancelled out by a Phil Kendrick try on the half-hour.
But after the break the Hornets were in a different class and a superb cover defence and exciting attacking play had Leigh reeling.
Darren Robinson crossed on 44 minutes as two tries by Matt Calland in four minutes just before the hour put Hornets well in control.
And the home side confirmed their superiority with late scores from Danny Wood and Wayne McHugh.
Wood added six goals to complete the rout.