Other Sports

Midlands Hurricanes v Rochdale Hornets

Rugby League

League 1

Sunday 19th March 2023

Kick Off 15.00

Midlands Hurricanes 24 Rochdale Hornets 32, attendance 190

@ Alexander Stadium Warm up Track

Walsall Road

Perry Barr

Birmingham

B42 2LR

£15 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

I decided to break up my drive back home from the Scottish Hop by taking in this match on the way home. Midlands Hurricanes were supposed to be playing on the actual Alexander Stadium itself, but have somehow ended up playing on the outside track pitch, which was installed for the Commonwealth Games in 2022. It is by far the worst venue I have ever attended for a game at national level and is totally unfit for purpose. Spectator access is limited to one side of the pitch, but at least you are able to stand inside the track against the rail. Unfortunately, this makes the ‘seats’ (school chairs placed under a temporary bit of cover) totally unusable, as they are on the outside of the track, hence you can’t then see the pitch due to everyone stood in the way. The RFL must be pretty desperate to want a Midlands based team in the league to have allowed them to play games here.

As for the game, it was 6th versus 7th in the league table, Hurricanes having had a win and a loss from their opening two games, whilst Hornets had lost their only game played so far. It was much closer than I’d been expecting. Hornets started the better of the two, scoring two tries (converted one) in the opening ten minutes. Hurricanes replied with a converted try of their own, but Hornets soon went over again to lead 6-14. A converted try by Hurricanes saw them pull it back to 12-14 just before the break, setting up the second half perfectly.

Three minutes into the second half Hurricanes went in front for the first time to lead 18-14. Unfortunately, they were unable to add to it and Hornets soon drew level and whilst Hurricanes had a man in the sin bin, edged further ahead with another converted try, soon followed by another to extend their lead to 18-30. Hurricanes made for an exciting finish when they added another try with four minutes left, leaving them with a chance of nicking a draw, but a penalty saw Hornets round off their win with the last kick of the match to take it 24-32.