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Rochdale Hornets got their 2025 season under way on Sunday in the Challenge Cup, falling to a battling defeat to Championship side Widnes Vikings at the Crown Oil Arena.
Having had a close encounter midweek against local rivals Oldham in the Law Cup, Hornets were looking to put in a good performance in their first competitive match of the year.
However, a 16-0 deficit at half-time left Hornets with too much work to do, despite a positive start to the second half which saw them move to within four points.
The opening 10 minutes were a cagey affair, with neither side threatening to score.
However, Widnes scored first when Danny Langtree crashed over from close range in the 11th minute. Tom Gilmore added the extras.
Hornets repelled more Widnes pressure with some fine defence, but eventually the weight of possession told as Joe Edge latched onto an in-goal kick to make it 10-0. Gilmore again adding the two.
Goal-line pressure continued to be put on Hornets, with Rhys Williams dashing over in the corner after 31 minutes to ensure Widnes had a solid grip on the game as the half-time hooter sounded.
Hornets scored twice in the space of five minutes at the start of the second half. The first of which saw Lewis Else take a nice offload from Myles Harrop and storm towards the Widnes' 20m line before a supporting McNally received possession to race over unopposed.
Debutant Ben Will scored Hornets’ second of the afternoon with a stroll-in try after a cut-out pass found him on the right-hand side.
Momentum changed and swung back in Widnes’ favour, however, with Williams strolling in down the left to make it 22-12.
Lewis Hall and Rhodri Lloyd added two quickfire tries in the 68th and 71st minute to all but seal the match for Widnes.
Hornets kept their heads up, with fan favourite and last season’s top scorer Luke Forber finishing acrobatically in the corner to grab a late consolation as Hornets had the final say.
Rochdale Hornets: McNally, Will, Flanagan, Harrop, Forber, Ridyard, Else, Johnson , Burton, Nelmes, Baker, Straugheir, Whittel.
Subs: Punchard, Killan, Dayes, Andrade, O’Donnell.
Tries: McNally, Will, Forber
Goals: Ridyard 2/3
Widnes Vikings: Owens, Williams, Fleming, Edge, Butt, Patton, Gilmore, Murray, Fozard, Reilly, Lloyd, Langtree, Lannon.
Subs: Doolan, Kirk, Hall, Bennion
Tries: Langtree, Edge, Williams 2, Hall, Lloyd
Goals: Gilmore 5/6
