Match Report | Rochdale Hornets 20-44 Sheffield Eagles

09/03/2026

Sheffield Eagles continued their unbeaten start in the Betfred Championship with a convincing 44–20 victory over Rochdale Hornets at Crown Oil Arena on Sunday afternoon.

Head coach Craig Lingard made two changes to the starting lineup following the previous win against Hunslet RLFC. Centre Kieran Gill and winger Billy Walkley dropped out, with Alex Foster and Ryan Millar coming into the side for their first starts of the season.

Blake Broadbent and Lewis Peachey also returned to the interchange bench, with the former making his first appearance of the campaign.

The hosts made the brighter start as winger Dan Nixon crossed after just four minutes, finishing to the right of the posts following a Sheffield error.

The Eagles nearly responded before the ten-minute mark when Joe Brown was dragged into touch in the corner by strong Rochdale defence. Moments later, however, Millar forced his way over in the left corner to score his first try of the afternoon and level the contest.

Sheffield then took control of the game with two quick scores. Masi Matongo powered over from close range for his first try in Eagles colours, before Matty Marsh finished in the right corner after another well-worked attacking move.

Marsh grabbed his second try six minutes later with a finish in the opposite corner, and just before half-time, Jack Bussey crashed over to give the Eagles a commanding 26–6 lead at the break.

Rochdale began the second half strongly as Max Flanagan scored from a scrum move seven minutes after the restart. Sheffield responded quickly, with Brown crossing in the right corner to extend their lead.

Former Eagle Jack Hansen then scored for Rochdale, but Sheffield again hit back soon after when Broadbent powered over for his first try of the season.

The Eagles sealed the victory in style as Foster crossed for their eighth try of the afternoon on the final play of the game.

Alongside London Broncos, Sheffield remain unbeaten in the Championship and now head into a two-week break from league action.

They return to Greater Manchester next Sunday when they travel to Heywood Road to face Swinton Lions in the Preliminary Round of the 1895 Cup (3pm kick-off).

Rochdale: Flanagan, Nixon, Sa’u, Ashton, Boyd, Hansen, Dallimore, McKler, Waterworth, Hatton, Wood, Taylor, Syme

Interchanges (all used): Dayes, Whitmore, Kelly-Duffy, Reid

18th Man: Metcalfe

Tries: Nixon (4’), Flanagan (47’), Hansen (58’), Boyd (66’)

Goals: Flanagan 2/4

Sheffield Eagles: Marsh, Brown, Foster, Hodson, Millar, Morgan, Lilley, Matongo, Bowes, Reilly, Bower, Farrell, Griffin

Interchanges (all used): Johnson, Bussey, Peachey, Broadbent

18th Man: Ellis

Tries: Millar (13’), Matongo (18’), Marsh (23’, 29’), Bussey (38’), Brown (53’), Broadbent (62’), Foster (80’)

Goals: Lilley 6/8

Referee: K. Moore