Hopwood Hall College produce stunning attacking display against Salford Red Devils Development Academy

A Match Report on some College Rugby League action this weekend...

Hopwood Hall College confirmed their status as the dominant team in the College League Premier Division with a 52-16 rout of Salford Red Devils Development Academy.

Hopwood Hall head coach, and former England international, Matt Calland revealed pre-match that he had sleepless nights wondering if he would even be able to build a squad and field a team in time for the start of the college season.

He need not have worried as the team that stepped onto the pitch at Cadishead Rhinos, having been whittled down to 16 players, took immediate control of their visit to the Red Devils and never looked back.

Connor Whitehead was the inspiration for Hopwood and produced the kind of flair that his fellow scrum-cap wearing half-backs Jonny Lomax and Jonathan Thurston would have been proud of. As well as a near faultless display with the boot, kicking 9 of his 10 conversion attempts, Whitehead was a constant threat, teasing and probing the Salford defence, and he turned provider for Noah Wilde and full-back Rafa Van Osslaear with a deft chip kick.

Tyde King, Harry Hartley and Deacon Connolly added their names to the scoresheet, Wilde bagged himself a powerful brace, and not to be outdone, Van Osslaear enhanced his credentials with a marauding hattrick of tries, adding his threat to the Hopwood attack with late, deep runs from the full-back position.

The skyrocketing penalty count was a minor source of frustration for Hopwood, and the home side was able to capitalise with two late consolation tries, spurred on by their “Last game of the season. Give it everything you’ve got” rallying cry.

Red Devils Elite Academy Head Coach Danny Barton, who began his playing career at Salford, finished the game with a wry smile and bemoaned the lack of spectacle, but praised his team’s efforts to keep going for 80 minutes.

It was Calland and his Hopwood side that were left to celebrate a huge win full of attacking dynamism and brutal defence.

By Patrick Bratin