St Helens coach Paul Rowley was at Rochdale to watch Workington Town in their Championship clash with the Hornets.
He brings his Super League stars to the Fibrus Community Stadium on Friday and will have got mixed messages about the Town team he faces.
They eventually lost 20-14 after a disappointing second-half but they had been on their game earlier to establish an 8-4 lead by half-time.
Could Town have had one eye on Friday’s showpiece home game? Possible, but the Championship is their bread and butter and that’s two defeats to start the campaign – and next up are Widnes in a fortnight.
Town actually had a good record at Rochdale as they as they have only lost once in 14 years, that being a 56-12 defeat in 2024.
Jonty Gorley’s men made a good start this time and were almost over on three minutes when Jake Bradley was held up over the line.
But they didn’t have to wait long for the score as they went over in their next set.
Jake Carter placed a lovely kick in behind the Hornets line and Mason Lewthwaite there to touch down.
After Rochdale forced a dropout through Jamie Dalimore the visitors were under the pump for the next five minutes through repeated sets and a penalty for a high tackle but stood firm in defence.
When they got back into attack mode they were close to a second try but Dominic Wear was held a meter shy on the line.
Town did increase their lead after 30 minutes when Braden Leigh took advantage of a gap in the home defence to dive on a grab the second unconverted try.
Disappointingly for Town, the Hornets scored on the stroke of half time when the game become more open as Dallimore placed a splendid kick for TJ Boyd to gather and score the third unconverted try of the half.
The Hornets started the second-half positively and eventually their pressure paid off with another try from a kick. This time it was Joe Hickey who provided the chance for Dan Nixon to take and
The Hornets pressure in the second half told just before the hour when Joe Hickey placed a kick for Dan Nixon to level the scores at 8-8. The kick from Max Flanagan gave the Hornets the lead for the first time and one they weren’t going to lose.
A rare error from Zarrin Galea to give the Hornets another opportunity and some weak defence saw Boyd score in the corner with Flanagan adding the conversion.
The 70th minute came and the pendulum swung again with Town forcing a dropout and then gaining a penalty for a steal on Bradle but with five minutes left the game was suddenly taken away from the Cumbrians.
Some really tired defence allowed Nixon over for a try to stretch the advantage to 20-8.
Town did manage a consolation through the last play of the game when Rio Corkill scored and Carter added the extras.
