Hornets go on the road after win

Rochdale waved goodbye to Spotland for seven weeks in resounding fashion at the weekend, thrashing Gateshead 64-0.

The Hornets now face seven weeks without a home game, but are well positioned in the race for top spot, just three points behind unbeaten leaders Swinton.

Coach John Stankevitch said: “It was our last home game for 7 weeks, and it was sometimes that we spoke about prior to kick off. Last season, our home form was superb, but at the halfway point in this season, we have been a little bit ‘off the boil’ at Spotland. We have conceded far too many points than I would have liked, so it was another goal of ours (on Sunday) to keep Gateshead from crossing our line.

“We achieved this goal quite comfortably I felt, and although we were defending our line at times, I thought we showed tremendous desire to keep them out.”

Rochdale have now reached the half way mark of their Championship 1 campaign, winning six and losing four of their 10 games to date.

Stankevitch added: “All in all, it was a satisfying afternoon in terms of taking the three points, the performance – in some awful weather, and keeping the opposition scoreless, and it means that at the halfway point in the league season, we are better placed than we were this time in 2010.

“Considering the ‘issues’ we have had earlier in the season, with injuries, work commitments, players retiring and ‘other problems outside of my control’, then it bodes well for the second half of the season.”