REPORT | Sheffield 56-6 Rochdale Hornets

27/07/2026

Written by Spencer Arnold

Sheffield Eagles extended their winning run to five games yesterday afternoon, scoring ten tries in an emphatic 56-6 victory against Rochdale Hornets, at the MEPS International Home of Football Stadium.

Sunday’s fixture marked the second game in a row that the Eagles played on their own home turf, and the side came into it hoping to build off their current strong form in the Betfred Championship.

The squad that beat Workington Town 38-12 the week prior remained mostly unchanged, but head coach Craig Lingard did bring Corey Johnson in at hooker, and Josh Hodson started at second row, moving Connor Bower to the bench.

It was an even encounter inside the opening minutes of the fixture, with strong defence from the Eagles deny the visitors after the forced an early goal line drop out.

An almost try from Greg Eden that was stopped short by a knock-on came in the 11th minute, but it wasn’t until the 18th that the Eagles managed to state their claim on the scoreboard first, with a crashing dive beneath the sticks from Conor Fitzsimmons.

Some more exceedingly close attempts followed, with the highlight being a dive over the line from Martyn Reilly, but that was deemed to be a knock-on.

However, just 10 minutes after their last, Eden managed to double the Eagles’ advantage following a powerful sprint towards the tryline.

Shortly after, Sheffield got another, with a pinpoint pass from Jordan Abdull putting Kieran Gill through to batter his way over the line, giving the hosts a comfortable 18-0 lead going into halftime.

In the early stages of the second half, Kai Morgan continued his scoring brilliance from the week prior, with a quick dash through an open gap in the Hornets’ defence.

A strong looping pass down the wing from Eden put Joe Brown through to get a comfortable try in the corner, as the Eagles began to run away with the game.

However, the visitors did get their name on the scoreboard next, with Lewis Hatton pushing his way over the Eagles’ tryline to give Rochdale their only points of the day, just after the fifty-minute mark.

But Sheffield didn’t slow down after conceding, following up with a moment of brilliance from Abdull, as he provided a perfectly weighted kick that sailed straight into Eden’s hands and pushed him straight through to score his second of the day.

The Eagles’ onslaught continued, and Jack Bussey out strengthened Rochdale’s defensive efforts to cross over to gift his side a 36-point advantage.

Billy Walkley was the next to get his name on the scoresheet, after a flying pass gave him the space to dive into the left corner.

Bower increased the gap in the scoreline further, after a blinding run straight through open space.

But to close out the fixture, in the closing minutes, a display of pure offensive brilliance that spanned from one end of the pitch to the other ended in Walkley crossing over for his second of the day, and his 23rd of the season.

The Eagles will hope to build towards six wins in six next Sunday with yet another home fixture, this time against Halifax Panthers (3pm KO).

Sheffield Eagles: Eden, Brown, Oakes, Gill, Walkley, Morgan, Abdull, Fitzsimmons, Johnson, Reilly, Foster, Hodson, Griffin

Interchanges (all used): Bower, Bussey, Butterworth, Bowes

18th Man: Broadbent

Tries: Fitzsimmons (18’), Eden (28’, 56’), Gill (33’), Morgan (42’), Brown (45’), Bussey (65’), Walkley (68’, 78’), Bower (71’)

Goals: Morgan (8/10)

Rochdale Hornets: Flanagan, Boyd, Ashton, Sa’u, Chippendale, Dallimore, Paga, Ioane, Waterworth, Barratt, Wood, Braddish, Syme

Interchanges (all used): Whitmore, Hatton, Roby, Andrade

18th Man: Dayes

Tries: Hatton (53’)

Goals: Flanagan (1/1)

Attendance: 547

Referee: A. Williams