By Ian Golden at The Gnoll
South Wales Scorpions won at home for the first time this season after being Rochdale Hornets 30-28 at The Gnoll in Neath on Sunday.
The Scorpions had won every away game in 2013 but victory in Neath had eluded them, and it looked like it was going to again after the Hornets dominated the second half of a thrilling game.
There were only five seconds left on the clock when Kristian Hawkes raced over the line to level the scores at 28-all with Jack Murphy kicking his fifth successful conversion for Scorpions to claim all three points.
Mistakes were in evidence at the start with three knock-ons in the first five minutes but it was the home side who came out far more fired up.
The first chance came from a Kristian Hawkes chip was easily picked up.
Scorpions took the lead on ten minutes when David James, playing in an unusual wing position, scored in the corner following a string of passes. Jack Murphy converted.
Looking for a second less than five minutes later, he was pushed out into touch.
Rochdale hit back. Danny Davies scored in a very similar move to Scorpions opener – in the corner following a fine passing move. Crook missed the kick.
Scorpions extended their lead on 22 minutes when Connor Farrer leapt over from dummy half and Murphy goaled again.
On 29 minutes it was 18-4 after Murphy picked up a loose back and raced 80 metres to ground, converting himself.
Hornets scored again five minutes before the interval after prop John Cookson powered his way through to ground under the sticks which Crook converted.
But Scorpions had the last say in the first half after Greg Burke ran through and Murphy goaled to give them a 24-10 half-time lead.
However the home side didn’t look in the game at all in the second half as Rochdale turned the tables and dominated for near on the whole next 40 minutes.
They scored from their first attack of the second half as Wayne English ran through and Crook converted.
English went through for his second on 54 minutes and Crook goaled again to bring the score back to 24-22.
Then Hornets took the lead after a comedy of errors inside the Scorpions goal-area with ended in Dave Hull pouncing on a loose ball after the home side were trying not to concede a goal-line drop-out.
And with two minutes go, as the Scorpions’ players’ heads were well and truly down, Rochdale went for a sixth try which would have sealed a win, but Martin Waring was held short on the final tackle.
Somehow Scorpions turned defeat into victory. With what they thought would be one final set, they worked their way upfield, won a repeat set on Rochdale’s ten metre line and Hawkes performed his moment of magic as the hooter blew.
South Wales Scorpions’ under 20s won for the first time this season on Saturday, beating Rochdale Hornets 28-20, away from home.
Jordan Howells, Rhys Fitzgerald and man of the match Mike Connor each crossed for a brace of tries with Levi Knowles kicking two conversions.
The teams were tied 14-all at the interval but, after Rochdale had taken the lead midway through the second half, the Scorpions scored tries on 60 and 79 minutes to clinch things.