Championship: Rivals Rams and Bulldogs both routed on opening day of campaign

Promoted Rochdale made a spectacular start to their Kingstone Press Championship campaign with a 46-0 rout of Dewsbury.
David Fifita , on dual-reg' at Dewsbury from Wakefield, but he and three Trinity team-mates couldn't help out the Rams at resurgent Rochdale.David Fifita , on dual-reg' at Dewsbury from Wakefield, but he and three Trinity team-mates couldn't help out the Rams at resurgent Rochdale.
David Fifita , on dual-reg' at Dewsbury from Wakefield, but he and three Trinity team-mates couldn't help out the Rams at resurgent Rochdale.

Dewsbury were able to include Wakefield’s Tonga international David Fifita, as well as rising star Max Jowitt and new signings Keegan Hirst and Mason Caton-Brown, on dual registration but they had no answer to the Hornets, who dominated from start to finish to emulate the feat of fellow Championship newcomers Toulouse, who were 44-6 winners over Batley in their opening match.

Hooker Ben Moores scored two of Rochdale’s eight tries, with the others coming from Sami Tahraoui, Danny Yates, Jovili Taira, Rob Massam, Lewis Gailbraith and Ryan Maneely, while Lewis Palfrey kicked seven goals.

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Bradford coach Geoff Toovey saw the size of the task facing him after the re-formed Bulls went down 54-24 to relegated Hull KR in their opening match in front of a crowd of 8,817 at Craven Park.

There was no lack of spirit or endeavour from the inexperienced Bulls, who took the lead with Liam Kirk’s eighth-minute try and added others through Ross Oakes, Ethan Ryan and Iliess Macani, with Oscar Thomas kicking four goals.

Scrum-half Jamie Ellis contributed 22 points on his debut for Rovers with a try and nine goals.

A try from skipper Daniel Harrison eight minutes from the end spared London Broncos’ blushes as they came from 22-10 down to beat Swinton 26-23 at Heywood Road.

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Danny Langtree scored a try in each half as Oldham came from behind to beat Sheffield Eagles 26-10 at Whitebank Stadium.

Sam Gee and Dave Hewitt also touched down and Scott Leatherbarrow kicked five goals as the Roughyeds dominated the second half.