Lee, no idea about the new Jets jersey.... But no doubt they'll be bringing out a centenary jersey, I'll keep you posted.
Don't get me started on the Salford vs Hornets, full time, 5 ex-SL players against an NL2 side and the Reds fans were still moaning, see match report....
Hornets team spirit not enough
Salford swagger as Hornets dig deep
Hornets 12 Salford 54
At National league level, you soon get bored with ex-Super league clubs. There's not been one yet that's held its hand up and admitted that they're out of the top flight because they're not good enough.
And their fans... don't get me started. Arrogant and graceless and bitter that they should dirty their boots against the likes of us when they plainly should be showboating for the Sky cameras. And all excessively confident that their divine right to a franchise to dine at Rugby League's top table will be exercised come 2009. Even if their stadium is a figment of some decidedly fevered imaginations.
As it was, serial SL underachievers Salford assumed the role of slighted/blighted big time Charlies and they're clearly going to enjoy their role as NL1 steamroller/pain in the backside for 2008.
Coming full time, full throttle and fully pumped up courtesy of warm weather training somewhere that definitely wasn't Oulder Hill all-weather pitch, Salford showed sufficient pace, prowess and power to complete the inevitable. But, to the travelling hordes' chagrin, this wasn't quite the total rout they expected.
Under Bobbie Goulding, Rochdale Hornets have found a rich seam of spirit. And, where previous incarnatons of our team would have rolled over, this side kept going until the final hooter.
Indeed, despite Salford scooting into an early 8-nil lead (tries from White and Sibbit - both conversions spectacularly missed by joke kicker Wilshire), Hornets hit back on 16 minutes when Simon Svabic wormed through a napping Reds defence to score - after Salford had dropped the kick off in comedic fashion. Svabic showed Wilshere how it was done by adding the extras. And, for nine blissful minutes the Wilbutts lane stand was mysteriously quiet as the visitors contemplated that some sides might just not roll over this season.
Hornets spirit was typified as Chris Campbell sprinted 80 metres back to snuff out a Salford interception that had 'try' written al over it.
Indeed, Hornets withstood three consecutive sets on their own line - one of them a man short, as Mike Stout was sin-binned for deigning to get involved in a tackle.
As it was, the Reds' fans had ample opportunity to shout and clap as Alker took huge advantage of Hornets slow manouevres at acting half back to repeatedly unzip a backpedalling defence. Further tries - one from Alker himself and one from the perpetually crocked Fitzpatrick - took Salford clear. Half time: 6-24.
The second half saw Salford in merciless mood as speed of thought and deed created tries for Jiminez, Wilshere, Stapleton and a now clearly limping Fitzpatrick.
But Hornets weren't quite finished. Good approach play took them close and a great short ball from Svabic found Ainscough arriving at speed to rash in and score. Good stuff.
Salford took a late score from Borgese as a clear indication of their SL credentials and celebrated accordingly. Good on 'em.
Afterwards, the general consensus in the Hornets camp was that Goulding's men had shown good mettle, kept going, never threw in the towel and had tried to play a little football on the way. It was also accepted that Salford are a pretty useful outfit: but we don't have to like it. And, despite having nothing to show for their side's efforts, at least the long-suffering Hornets faithful had seen some effort.
This was echoed by the Bobster himself afterwards: "My lads had a go and that's all you can ask of them against a side like that. They showed great enthusiasm and spirt." Too true, Bob. The true benchmark of Hornets' potential comes next week against Swinton: and with the Lions going painfully close against Oldham, it promises to be another cracking encounter between these two venerable clubs.
