News

For a second consecutive week, all Betfred League 1 eyes were on Cornwall RLFC as the Choughs made their professional bow in the Duchy on Sunday.

In front of a season’s best crowd of 1,473 in League 1, Midlands Hurricanes very muched spoiled the hosts’ party with a comfortable 60-14 win.

Hayden Freeman and Jack Dawson both bagged hat-tricks as Richard Squires’ men recorded their first league triumph of the campaign at the third time of asking. Trailing 40-0 at the break, Cornwall did improve after the resumption and scored three tries through Harry Aaronson, Wigan Warriors loanee Adam Jones and Sam Snell.

Elsewhere, Oldham matched the feats of Midlands by winning for the first time in 2022 with a resounding triumph over 12-man West Wales Raiders. 

The Roughyeds prevailed 100-4 at Whitebank with the Raiders’ cause not helped by the 36th minute dismissal of loose forward Callum Mulkeen for dissent. After he was initially sent to the sin-bin by merry whistle blower Liam Rush, Mulkeen then pressed the self-destruct button and was off for an early bath for something he said to the official. 

Oldham crossed the whitewash 16 times with Own Restall plundering a four-timer. Kian Morgan scored three times while there was a brace a piece for Logan Astley and Liam Copland.

The spirited Raiders did manage to score one consolation score in the 41st minute through Callum Merrett. 

At the top of the table, Swinton’s fine start to the campaign continues and they kept their 100 per cent record intact with a 64-22 win over Doncaster – Cornwall RLFC’s opponents in round four.

Jayden Hatton, Max Roberts and Jack Hansen all scored two each for the Lions with Doncaster forced to play a man light for 64 minutes after Ben Johnston was giving his marching orders for dissent. 

Swinton are being hotly pursued by North Wales Crusaders who also have a perfect record of three wins from as many games. Anthony Murray’s men travelled to the capital in round three and they eased London Skolars aside 54-6.

Just as they demonstrated against Cornwall in round two, Crusaders looked dangerous in attack and their potent strike force were once again amongst the tries. There were two each for Jordy Gibson, Gav Rodden and Tom Johnson while Patrick Ah Van, Rob Massam and Brad Brennan all touched down for the Colwyn Bay outfit.

Leighton Ball scored the Skolars’ only try in the 24th minute with Phil Lyon adding the extras. 

Finally, Rochdale Hornets are up to third in table after they overcame Hunslet 44-20 at Spotland. Although the final scoreline looks comfortable for the hosts, they trailed 14-10 at the mid-way point of the first half. 

However, the game changed when the Parksiders’ interchange Ethan O’Hanlon was sent to the sin-bin for a late challenge and Rochdale never looked back. The Hunslet cause was further hampered just shy of the hour mark when Watson went to the bin for a shoulder charge. And further misery was inflicted upon the visitors 12 minutes from time as Kiedan Hartly was given his marching orders for dissent. 

Zac Baker, Ben O’Keefe and Lewis Sheridan all scored twice for the Hornets. Joe Sanderson and Jack Render touched down for Hunslet in the first half with their scoring completed by Watson in the dying embers.