Rochdale Hornets 10 Bradford Bulls 70

From the moment Sam Wood collected a short pass from Adrian Purtell to cross the line after just three minutes, the outcome of yesterday’s match was never in doubt.

It was a dream start to life in the first team for 19-year-old Academy captain Wood, who could not have scored an easier try.

The Halifax lad, normally a centre but handed his debut on the right wing yesterday, was warmly embraced by his team-mates, with skipper Heath L’Estrange giving him a huge squeeze.

With Wood’s try, Francis Cummins’ men were on their way to booking their place in today’s Tetley’s Challenge Cup fifth-round draw.

When Jamie Langley barrelled over the line for a second six minutes later, a cricket score looked on the cards.

But the Bulls soon lost Langley (hamstring) and Jamie Foster (shoulder) to injury and struggled for fluency at times as the first half progressed.

Foster’s loss prompted Cummins to push Jarrod Sammut to full back and, although Bradford ran in three more first-half tries from Luke Gale, Chev Walker and Sammut, they were far from at their best.

Credit to Rochdale, of course.

The team from Championship One never threw in the towel and were rewarded with a 37th-minute try from winger Dave Sutton.

Ian Talbot’s part-time side, made up of labourers, scaffolders and sports development officers, showed some spirit yesterday.

But the gulf in class was fairly evident throughout, even if the Bulls could have made life easier for themselves at times during the opening 40 minutes.

The loss of Langley and Foster aside, the debuts of Wood and Ben Evans gave much cause for optimism. Wood carried the ball well and was lively throughout, while Evans came off the bench in the first half and punched his weight in the front row.

Gale also showed glimpses of his best form following his recent return from injury and how the Bulls will need his playmaking skills in the next two matches against Warrington and Leeds.

And the second half was largely one-way traffic, with Elliott Whitehead underlining his ability to score tries with a well-taken hat-trick.

Cummins rested Brett Kearney, Elliot Kear, Nick Scruton and Matt Diskin but Foster and John Bateman were fit to return and Wood was handed a starting berth, with Evans named among the replacements.

The Bulls, backed by a large and noisy following, began the match on the front foot and Purtell soon found himself in space to send the unmarked Wood over from a couple of yards out.

Foster converted the try but Rochdale showed some guts and Sutton looked to have grounded the ball from Steven Roper’s kick.

Referee Robert Hicks had other ideas, however, and no try was awarded.

Two minutes later, the Bulls effectively killed the game as a contest when Langley powered over the line from close range from Gale’s short pass and Foster’s right boot made it 12-0.

Gale and Sammut both looked lively and the former’s kicking game constantly pinned the Hornets back towards their own line.

There were a couple of sloppy handling errors from Foster and Danny Addy and, in the 19th minute, Foster was replaced by Bateman.

The former St Helens man looked in clear discomfort as he left the action, with Sammut switching to full back and Addy from the second row into the halves.

But moments later Gale found the space to dive over the line and Sammut converted before Gale then sent Walker over in the 30th minute for a fourth try.

Rochdale responded in spirited fashion when Sutton touched down three minutes before the break when the Bulls failed to deal with a high kick from Paul Crook.

But, on the stroke of half-time, Sammut showed his class to scamper over for his first try.

He took Addy’s pass 20 metres out and showed impressive pace to race over in the left corner for a try he converted.

Whatever Cummins said to his players at half-time worked as they hit Rochdale with a triple blow which harvested three tries in eight minutes.

In the 47th minute, Gale produced a meticulous piece of dummy running which led to him crossing the line from close range and then Sammut sent Bateman powering over three minutes later.

The procession continued in the 55th minute when Whitehead supported Purtell’s fine break to score and the homegrown second-rower soon grabbed his second with a close-range finish.

Sammut then showed outstanding pace when he broke from inside his own half to race 65 yards down the right channel to score.

After Rochdale grabbed a second when John Cookson barged over from close range, Whitehead reclaimed centre stage in the 76th minute with another powerful finish.

Addy’s long pass sent Michael Platt over in the left corner in the dying embers to complete the rout.

Challenge Cup fourth-round results: Wigan Warriors 60, Leigh Centurions 10; Leeds Rhinos 28, Castleford Tigers 12; Widnes Vikings 42, Doncaster 28; Hull Kingston Rovers 26, St Helens 18; London Broncos 24, Featherstone Rovers 12; Sheffield Eagles 30, Dewsbury Rams 16; Hemel Stags 6, Wakefield Wildcats 66; Hull 62, North Wales Crusaders 6; Hunslet Hawks 12, Catalan Dragons 50; Batley Bulldogs 4, Huddersfield Giants 13; Whitehaven 12, Workington Town 16; York City Knights 30, Toulouse Olympique X 28; University of Gloucester 6, Salford City Reds 82; Keighley Cougars 4, Warrington Wolves 74; Halifax 52, Barrow Raiders 6; Rochdale Hornets 10, Bradford Bulls 70.