Safe!
Goulding works his biggest miracle as Hornets brush aside sorry 'Fax
It was a day for celebration; a day of thanks for miracles delivered as Hornets secured safety in National League 1. Thought seemingly impossible back in the dark days of the ATC, this has been what many have called the club's greatest achievement. And in the process, Bobbie Goudling has proven himself to be a true Rugby League genius. Bobbie's made some big promises to the Hornets faithful this year - and, unlike Hornets coaches in the past, he's delivered in spades. Indeed, as we sit on the brink of the NL 1 playoffs, he said, "If we do (make the six) who knows what might happen?"
Ensuring survival was a sleeves-rolled-up job as Halifax came to spoil, sprawl and slow down play as much as possible. Ironic then that Halifax opened the scoring with a fifth minute penalty.
Hornets hit the gas. On six minutes a delicate John Braddish grubber bobbled through the Fax in-goal; defenders flapped and flustered; Rob Ball dived in to touch down. Five minutes later, Robinson dodged flailing tackles wide on the right and took the ball into open field. A perectly flighted pass sent Andy Saywell away, skinning his opposite number on the outside to score. Lee Birdseye's touchline conversion successful via the far post.
Halifax did compete briefly. A fumbled clearance by Campbell allowing Feehan to dive in; Black jinking in wide out; Bloem slotting a 40th minute penalty.
In between, Chris Cambell took advantage of a superbly disguised Goulding grubber to race through and touch down.
Half time 16-12 and Fax's spoiling working a treat.
After the break, Hornets got clinical. On 44 minutes Darren Robinson suckered the Halifax defence with a trademark one-yarder. This spurred Halifax into Plan B: flopping on tackles and swingiing arms. Key protagonist: the agricultural Ryan McDonald. Not fast enough, though for Andy Gorski who blasted straight through the Halifax line from half way; with Goulding in support, he flummoxed the Fax full back with an audacious dummy and scooted under the posts.
Four minutes later, Lee Birdseye took the ball close to the fax posts; McDonald was more interested in thumping him than tackling him; Birdeye ducked under his arm to score and leave the Fax forward on his lardy arse. Lovely stuff.
At 34-12 Hornets were home and hosed; the fans taunting Halifax with a chorus of "They'll love you at Gateshead" and "Give us the ball you're boring".
Two late tries from Feehan and Bloem gave the scoreline a semblance of respectability at 34-24, but as Halifax pondered the very real probability of mixing it with the best of NL2 to prevent relegation, Hornets celebrated like we'd won the league, cup and Olympic gold all at once.
As an emotional Bobbie Goulding gathered his victorious troops around him on the field to acknowledge the magnitude of their tremendous achievement, The main stand rose in appreciation of a miraculous job well done.
And with the pressure off at one end of the table, we can start looking in the other direction. Progress into the playoffs is in our hands - but however the next few weeks pan out, Rochdale Hornets have achieved more than anyone ever thought possible - and how often have you been able to say that?
"Bobbie Goulding walks on water" sang the Noise Machine: After this season, who'd argue with that?
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