Page 50 - Rugby League World (February 2020)

ROCHDALE HORNETS

2019 was a year to forget for Rochdale Hornets. RLW PREDICTS: 3rd
Not only were they relegated to League 1 after
winning just one game - a 20-8 victory over Barrow
in Round Four - they also conceded an average of
46 points per game whilst scoring just 13.
On top of that, increasing levels of division were
rumbling away off the field and eventually the
entire board, which itself had seen many comings
and goings throughout the year, took the decision
to step down from their roles.
This eventually led to a major change when a
consortium led by former Swinton Lions chairman
Andy Mazey got the unanimous backing of the
members to take the club over, turning it from COACH STAR PLAYER
supporter-owned to privately-owned.
And while the new owners are working hard to bring Matt Calland has a long In a squad with many local amateur
positivity back to the club, all the uncertainty did association with Rochdale players joining for 2020, Sean
leave coach Matt Calland with very little time to get Hornets, stretching back over four Penkywicz’s arrival at Rochdale is a
his squad in shape for the new campaign. decades. major coup for Matt Calland’s squad.
Most of the new signings have come from local He first played for the club in Having played over 350 games for
amateur clubs, with Thatto Heath and partner 1991, before going on to be a Halifax, Huddersfield Giants, Leigh
club Rochdale Mayfield the main providers. But Super League winner with Bradford Centurions, Toronto Wolfpack and
the smart recruitment of the experienced Sean Bulls in 1997. He returned to Workington Town, the 37-year-
Penkywicz and Dale Bloomfield, as well as the Spotland for two further playing old adds some much-needed
retention of proven try-scorer Shaun Ainscough, spells in 2001 and 2003. He experience to the Hornets.
will help guide these less experienced recruits became coach of the Hornets Penkywicz and Calland were part
along the way. last May and had to deal with of the same Halifax squad to win
Given what’s happened before it, 2020 will very relegation from the Championship the Championship title in 2010, so
much be about consolidation to get the club back and the many off-field issues the they’ll be hoping for more success
on an even footing after a torrid 12-months. club had to face. together a decade on.

WEST WALES RAIDERS

RLW PREDICTS: 11th July 20th 2019 will forever go down as an historic
day in the annals of West Wales Raiders.
It was then, after 44 previous attempts, that the
club finally won its first competitive game since
taking over South Wales Ironmen and entering
League 1 ahead of the 2018 season.
The 44-16 victory over Coventry Bears was fully
deserved on the day as Australian coach Kim Williams
had worked hard since his arrival in the pre-season to
improve upon the results of the previous year.
He did manage to do that and the average number of
points they conceded each week reduced dramatically.
Many people saw Williams as the man to continue
COACH STAR PLAYER Huddersfield Giants, who snapped him up to be part
this improving trend, but he caught the eye of
It’s certainly wasn’t the Raiders’ plan Archie Snook may only be 20 years of their Academy set-up.
to lose Kim Williams after just one old, but he is the clubs longest His replacement is Aaron Wood, who got the nod
season, but in Aaron Wood the club serving player having been with ahead of numerous other candidates due to his
have found someone who shares them since he was 15 and before similar ideas to those senior figures at the club
their aspirations for the long-term they took over South Wales about how the Raiders can further grow and develop.
future of the Llanelli outfit. Ironmen and entered League 1. The Raiders are continuing to build a largely Welsh
Joining the club from Toulouse, His passion for the club after squad, with one or two more experienced heads
where he worked with the finally helping them to an historic from elsewhere among them.
Reserves, Wood admits the future first League win last summer was But the fact that former players, and Welsh union
development of the club and the clear for all to see. And if some of talent are wanting to sign for the club this year,
game in South Wales far outweighs that rubs off on the new arrivals shows that some of the locals are starting to get
the desire to win every game, and then no matter what happens this excited about what this club can do.
with the Raiders still developing, year, it won’t be through a lack of If they can build on their solitary win again this year,
that’s a good attitude to have. trying. it will no doubt be smiles all round.

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