Hornets unable to close gap on league leaders

BETFRED LEAGUE 1

- 

ROCHDALE Hornets fell to a 32-12 defeat at the hands of Betfred League 1 leaders North Wales Crusaders, in what proved to be a tough afternoon for Gary Thornton's side.

With the visitors lying in fourth place before the match and coming off the back of a comprehensive victory over Newcastle Thunder seven days earlier, confidence was high.

Sunday's trip to North Wales was a chance to make a statement of intent against one of the best teams in the competition, but it proved to be a difficult afternoon.

The first controversial moment came in the opening stages, as Gregg McNally was wiped out by a trailing arm and the Hornets were awarded an early penalty.

After finding touch to start the set inside the North Wales 20m area, they couldn’t turn field position into points.

It was the home side who got on the scoreboard first after just seven minutes.

Sam Wilde latched onto the end of a Jordy Gibson grubber kick to open the scoring, with Jamie Dallimore adding the extras.

Four minutes later and they were in again.

Gibson once again planted a grubber which caught the Hornets defence cold, before he managed to re-gather his own kick to score.

The home side started to pile the pressure on the Hornets line and they were in again on the 15-minute mark.