Rochdale Hornets 44 York City Knights 34: Defensive problems prove costly for York

Despite scoring six tries and a total of 34 points it wasn't enough to see the visitors home as powder-puff tackling and a lack of defensive nous allowed the home team to run in seven tries, all converted.

York got off to the perfect start, Lee Waterman powering over from close-range.

Hornets hit back, Adam Bowman tipping a long pass on to Bolu Fagborun, who forced his way over. Crook converted.

Poor completion again gave Hornets possession and Danny Smith John Cookson grabbed tries. Crook converted both.

York got back into the contest with tries from Jack Lee, Brett Waller and Dennis Tuffour, Lee Waterman converted all three to lead 22-18.

Paul Crook nipped over for a converted try and added a penalty to make it 26-22.

In the second half, Phil Wood and Smith eased their way over for tries, both converted by Crook, before Waterman pulled a try back for York.

Another York revival looked likely until Steve Roper and Wayne English bamboozled a tiring defence to send Dale Bloomfield in at the corner. Crook converted.

York grabbed a late consolation effort from Brett Waller, who rampaged through the defensive line. McLocklan converted.

Rochdale: English, Fagborun, Bowman, Reid, Bloomfield, Crook, Roper, Raftery, Powell, Cocker, Gorton, Smith, Cookson. Substitutes: Hayes, Samuels, Wood, Ashall.

York: Ratcliffe, Tuffour, Wilson, Waterman, Lineham, McLocklan, Stamp, Fallon, Lee, Freer, Ross, Duckworth, Lewis. Substitutes: Williams, Stearman, Clough, Waller.

Referee: C Leatherbarrow (RFL).