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Rochdale Hornets picked up their first win at Cougar Park for five years with a dominant performance against Keighley.
After a week away following the Challenge Cup final, Hornets were eager to get back to action following the dramatic comeback win over local rivals Swinton 14 days ago.
Jamie Dallimore, having just signed a new one-year deal to stay at Hornets in 2027, returned to the side following suspension, while Junior Sa’u and Lewis Hatton returned to their former club. There was also a Hornets debut for new signing Mark Ioane, with the experienced forward also returning to the place he called home last year.
After a tight opening ten minutes, Jordan Paga ducked under the Keighley defence to score. Max Flanagan added the extras.
Another try just moments later, Chris Barratt created the space after a rapid break before handing the ball inside to Jack Hansen, who finished the job. Flanagan slotted over another simple kick.
The travelling Hornets supporters didn’t have to wait long to see their side go over the line again, this time thanks to the mercurial Jamie Dallimore, who sliced through the Keighley defence from close range. Flanagan maintained his perfect record from the tee.
Right on the stroke of half-time, Keighley's Aaron Brown found his way over. Matty Beharrell added the extras.
Hornets wasted no time at the start of the second half, and following Beharrell’s kick off going out on the full, they took full advantage of their field position as Dallimore grabbed his second as he shot out from acting half to score.
A 20-point gap was opened ten minutes into the second half as Ethan Wood stretched for the line amongst a sea of bodies. Flanagan kicked the goal.
Dallimore had his hat-trick five minutes later in what was a near carbon copy of Wood’s score moments earlier. Flanagan once again converted.
Keighley got their second try of the afternoon as Brad Holroyd latched on to the end of a ball over the top of the Hornets defence to cut the arrears to 24 points.
A downside to Dallimore’s outstanding afternoon was his yellow card fifteen minutes from time, with Keighley using their extra man advantage to full effect as Nathan Rushworth scored. Beharrell kicked his second goal of the afternoon from in front of the posts.
Belief started to grow amongst the Keighley supporters that their side could mount an improbable comeback, and the gap was cut once more as George Flanagan stepped through the Hornets' defence to score. Beharrell cut the deficit to 12 with seven minutes to play.
This, however, proved to be the last meaningful action of the game as Keighley secured a big two points to kickstart their run of away games, with an 1895 Cup semi-final on the horizon followed by league trips to Newcastle and Goole to come.
Keighley Cougars: Sayner, Whitford, Proud, Clarke, Holroyd, Pickersgill, Beharrell, Teanby, G. Flanagan, Rushworth, Dean, Lanskey, Brown.
Bench: Burton, Green, Schofield, Parker.
Tries: Brown, Holroyd, Rushworth, G. Flanagan
Goals: Beharrell (3/4)
Rochdale Hornets: M. Flanagan, Boyd, Sa’u, Ashton, Nixon, Dallimore, Hansen, Barratt, Paga, Dayes, Whitmore, Wood, Syme.
Bench: Hatton, Roby, Coleman, Ioane
Tries: Paga, Hansen, Dallimore (3), Wood
Goals: Flanagan (5/6)
