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Eight-try Sheffield Eagles showed their class as they came out on top in a high-scoring affair with Rochdale Hornets to continue their unbeaten start to the season.
Hornets were eager to get back to winning ways following back-to-back defeats at the hands of Hunslet and Whitehaven, with the big news from the Hornets camp being the return of Max Flanagan as well as a second debut for prop forward Charlie McKler, who rejoined the club on loan from Warrington Wolves earlier in the week. Captain Ross Whitmore also returned to the side following his international appearance for Scotland last week, but the hooker started from the bench as Luke Waterworth kept his place in the starting 13.
Hornets opened the scoring after less than five minutes through Dan Nixon, who picked up a loose ball inside the Sheffield 20m to race away to score, Max Flanagan added the extras from underneath the posts.
The first threat from Sheffield came from the following set, a leap for the corner from Joe Brown thwarted by a scrambling Hornets defence who managed to knock the winger and ball in to touch to save what looked like being a certain try.
Sheffield reduced the arrears to two points not long after, a slick passing move out to the left edge found Ryan Miller who slid home in the corner to get his side on the board.
Just before the midway point of the half, the tables had been turned as Masi Matongo powered over underneath the posts. Jordan Lilley converted to give Sheffield a four-point lead.
Sheffield added their third try moments later as Matty Marsh spun over to score in the corner following a quick dummy to open up the Hornets defence.
Marsh had his second 12 minutes before the break, the full-back again exploiting a gap in the Hornets defence to take further control of the game. Lilley converted from wide out.
Three minutes from half-time, Jack Bussey added his name to the scoresheet for Sheffield as he crashed over from close range. Lilley once again kicking the goal to establish a 20-point lead at the interval.
Hornets got themselves back into the game early in the second half when Flanagan was on the end of a passing move from a scrum deep inside the Sheffield half, before the full-back converted his own try.
Sheffield restored their 20-point cushion just moments after, however, as a diving finish in the corner from Joe Brown. Lilley converted.
Hornets dildn’t let their heads drop, and just before the hour mark, a grubber kick from Jamie Dallimore wasn’t dealt with by the Sheffield defence and Jack Hansen was on hand to dot the ball down to score against his former club.
18 minutes from time, Blake Broadbent sliced his way through the Hornets defence to put further daylight between the teams.
Hornets wouldn’t go down without a fight and were in again 13 minutes from time, thanks to a quick break down the wing from TJ Boyd,.
Flanagan sprinted 80m minutes later but was dragged down inches short of the try line.
On closer inspection, it looked as if the Hornets full-back had managed to put the ball down on the whitewash amongst the sea of bodies, but he was denied and his side couldn’t make the resulting field position count.
As the final hooter sounded, Alex Foster put the seal on an impressive Sheffield performance. Lilley converted his sixth goal of the day.
Sheffield returned to South Yorkshire with two more points in the bag as their winning start to 2026 continued.
For Hornets, however, it’s a third straight defeat, and with no game for two weeks, there will be a lot to consider for Gary Thornton and his team before the visit of Midlands Hurricanes on Sunday 22 March.
Rochdale Hornets: Flanagan, Nixon, Sa’u, Ashton, Boyd, Hansen, Dallimore, McKler, Waterworth, Hatton, Wood, Taylor, Syme.
Bench: Dayes, Whitmore, Kelly-Duffy, Reid.
Tries: Nixon, Flanagan, Hansen, Boyd
Goals: Flanagan (2)
Sheffield Eagles: Marsh, Bron, Foster, Hudson, Miller, Morgan, Lilley, Matongo, Bowes, Reilly, Bower, Farrell, Griffin.
Bench: Johnson, Bussey, Broadbent, Peachey.
Tries: Miller, Matongo, Marsh (2), Bussey, Brown, Broadbent, Foster
Goals: Lilley (6)
