By Ian Golden at Spotlands
South Wales Scorpions lost out in a hostile match at Rochdale Hornets which saw five players receive a red card.
Four of the sendings off were on the half-time hooter when a mass brawl started after Rochdale’s Gary Middlehurst threw a punch. The fifth was mid-way through the second half as the hostility continued after the break.
Rochdale started well. Paul Crook kicked a fine 40-20 to set them up for what could have been their first score but Jonny Leather was held up over the line.
But from the restart, two tackles in and Dale Bloomfield slid past the defence to ground in the corner. Crook converted.
Hornets had a possible second disallowed for obstruction and then after Scorpions won a penalty, they struck back when Ben Gilbert latched on to a Courtney Davies grubber to ground. Davies converted.
The home side couldn’t get into the game. Wayne English had a try chalked off for a forward pass.
But they regained the lead when they ripped open the Scorpions back-line and Gary Middlehurst fed Steven Roper to easily run through. Crook easily goaled.
And they were unlucky not to be 18-6 up. Substitute Hough made a storming run and politely laid off to Roper to go under the sticks but the touch-judge pulled play back for obstruction.
From the penalty, David James finished off a fine passing move to score and Kristian Hawkes converted.
But the hostility that had been brewing, both on and off the field, came to ahead on the first half hooter when Gary Middlehurst threw a punch in the play-the-ball. Many of the Scorpions side then piled in for revenge which resulted in Nathan Mossop joining Middlehurst for an early bath. Further infringements followed and Phil Braddish was also given a red. Scorpions’ Jason Howells, while still on the bench, also got involved and he was red-carded too.
Rochdale dominated the second half well despite being a man down. Bloomfield slid over in the corner but Crook’s kick just slid under the bar.
The home side had to fight (not literally this time) for their next try as Scorpions’ defence was standing firm but eventually a dropped ball let them in with Crook creating a try for Leather in the corner. Crook’s kick again was missed.
Wigan Warriors dual registered player Dominic Crosby was then red carded for punching making the sides even and Scorpions’ heads went down.
Hornets’ tails and spirits went up and Joe Bullock couldn’t stop Stephen Bannister from sprinting to the line for the home side’s fifth. Crook’s kick was missed.
Bloomfield, Andy Taylor and Jonny Leather added further tries for Rochdale, all converted by Crook, to give them a sturdy win.