Rochdale Hornets beaten by Hunslet as Faraimo scores five at Crown Oil Arena

Rochdale Hornets suffered their first league defeat of the 2026 Betfred Championship season as Hunslet ran in eight tries in a 42 to 6 win at the Crown Oil Arena.

Gary Thornton’s side handed a debut to new signing Marcus Green, who was named on the bench, while Jack Hansen started at full back in place of the absent Max Flanagan.

There were also several familiar faces in the Hunslet ranks, with former Hornets Myles Harrop, Emmerson Whittel and Elijah Simpson returning to Rochdale with the visitors.

Hunslet made a fast start and were ahead inside five minutes when Bureta Faraimo forced his way over in the corner. Billy Jowitt added the goal for a 6 to 0 lead.

Rochdale’s first real opportunity came after 15 minutes when they pinned Hunslet back on their own line, but a knock on handed possession back to the Parksiders.

Faraimo crossed for his second midway through the half with a near identical finish to his opener. He completed his hat trick on 26 minutes, taking advantage of a set restart close to the Rochdale line to power over again.

Hunslet extended their advantage 10 minutes before the break when Eddie Battye broke clear to score, with Jowitt adding the conversion.

Faraimo grabbed his fourth five minutes before half time, finishing in the corner to give the visitors a commanding lead at the interval.

Rochdale had late pressure before the hooter. Ethan Wood found space in the Hunslet defence but could not hold on to the ball, and two repeat sets from a penalty and a goal line drop out brought no reward as Hunslet went in 26 points to the good.

Seven minutes into the second half Faraimo struck again, former Hornet Harrop providing the assist as the winger drove over for his fifth try of the afternoon.

With 15 minutes remaining, Jowitt added a try of his own with a weaving run through the defence before converting from in front of the posts.

The Hornets found some consolation nine minutes from time when TJ Boyd spun his way over for his sixth try of the season in all competitions. Jamie Dallimore’s conversion went in off the post.

There was further frustration for the home side late on when winger Dan Nixon was taken from the field on a stretcher following a heavy collision.

Isaac Misky added Hunslet’s eighth try two minutes from time, and Jowitt’s sixth successful goal capped a comprehensive performance, with Kyle Trout’s side becoming the first team to take league points off Rochdale this season.

The Hornets travel to Whitehaven next Sunday looking to respond.

Rochdale Hornets
Hansen, Nixon, Ashton, Sa’u, Boyd, Dallimore, Hickey, Dayes, Whitmore, Kelly Duffy, Wood, Taylor, Syme.
Bench Hatton, Waterworth, Green, Metcalfe.

Tries Boyd
Goals Dallimore

Hunslet
Jowitt, Agoro, Graham, Harrop, Faraimo, Gaskell, Abram, Hallas, Misky, Foster Gilmore, Whittel, Battye.
Bench Corbett, Simpson, Leake, Berry.

Tries Faraimo 5, Battye, Jowitt, Misky
Goals Jowitt 6