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Rochdale Hornets produced their best performance of the season as they powered past Keighley Cougars on Sunday to secure third place in the League One table and a home play-off semi-final against Hunslet RLFC.
Hornets head coach Gary Thornton was handed the luxury of selecting an unchanged starting thirteen to the one which was successful against North Wales Crusaders last weekend, with the only changes coming on the interchange bench where Dean Roberts and Thomas Ratchford returned.
The game got underway in autumnal conditions at the Crown Oil Arena, and it was Hornets who started better with Misi Taulapapa and Luke Forber being inches away from scoring.
The deadlock was finally broken twenty four minutes into the game through Luke Forber who made it 19 tries in just 16 games this season. Hornets targeted the left side of Keighley this time and the combination of McNally and Harrop released Forber to crash over.
Keighley struck back just minutes later. Duane Straugheir was penalised for a high shot and the visitors took full advantage as Josh Lynam crossed over after Aiden Roden had slipped at the vital moment when going into tackle. Jack Miller converted.
The crowd had to wait until the 36th minute to see Hornets retake the lead. Route one rugby league was the play which cracked the Keighley resistance as Dean Roberts powered his way over under the posts. Mackenzie Harman converted.
Hornets weren’t finished for the half as Misi Taulapapa went over for a try right on the hooter. Lewis Else turned creator once again as he dropped a lovely short ball off to Taulapapa who ran a great line to burst through and score. Harman added the extras to take Hornets into half-time with a 16-6 lead.
The second half began just as the first ended, with Hornets all over Keighley. Less than one minute into the second half, Hornets scored a try. Else broke the line again to find Myles Harrop in support as he sped past the Keighley defence to score. Harman failed with the conversion attempt.
Keighley were on the ropes and their misery was compounded on the next set of six as Jordan Andrade powered over for a try. Harman added the two.
Keighley regained their composure and began to look like a side sitting second in League One again, this showed as Billy Wakeley crossed in the corner to narrow the deficit. Miller converted.
Keighley ramped up the pressure as they looked to make amends for their disastrous start to the second half. The spirited Hornets defence initially stood firm but buckled as the veteran hooker George Flanagan scooted over from dummy half. Miller again converted.
With Keighley now firing on all cylinders, the next try in the game was crucial and that try went the way of the Lewis Else and Rochdale Hornets. Myles Harrop did excellently to pick off a loose ball and tiptoe down the touchline before finding Else in support who ran 40m to score. Harman converted. 36-18 at full-time, third place secured in style.
