Widnes Vikings gear up for an 1895 Cup semi-final clash this Sunday (3pm kick-off), as they welcome Rochdale Hornets to the DCBL Stadium.
The Vikings come into this fixture full of confidence following their 46-0 victory over Dewsbury Rams in the Betfred Championship last weekend, a result which extended their winning run to seven games.
Allan Coleman’s men sit 80 minutes away from a spot in the final, and should they overcome the Hornets this weekend, it will be their first chance at silverware since 2019.
🎟️ Ticket information
Tickets for Sunday’s game are available here.
Supporters can also pick up their tickets on Sunday at the Vikings club shop, which will be open from midday until kick-off.
📰 Squad news
There is just one change from last weekend’s victory at home to Dewsbury Rams.
Full-back Matt Fleming returns to the line-up after being sidelined with a hand injury, replacing young winger Frank Sergent.
Our official 2026 squad news partner is Motorpoint Widnes!
🥊 The opposition
Rochdale Hornets come into Sunday’s semi-final clash in good form with three consecutive wins in all competitions, besting the likes of Goole Vikings to book their spot in the final four of the 1895 Cup, followed by a derby day victory over Swinton Lions and, most recently, a win on the road at Keighley Cougars.
Despite enduring a difficult period in the league of late, the Hornets pride themselves on resilience and doggedness, and the Vikings will be more than aware of the threat posed by players such as Dan Nixon, Max Flanagan and Jack Hansen.
With both teams keen for a chance at silverware, it promises to be a thrilling encounter at the DCBL Stadium this Sunday.
Rochdale Hornets 21-man squad: Tom Ashton, Chris Barratt, TJ Boyd, Jamie Dallimore, Jaden Dayes, Max Flanagan, Jack Hansen, Lewis Hatton, Mark Ioane, Dylan Kelly-Duffy, Ben Metcalfe, Dan Nixon, Jordan Paga, Bailey Pemberton, Junior Sa’u, Jay Scriven, Harry Sheridan, Jordan Syme, Luke Waterworth, Ross Whitmore, Ethan Wood.
⏪ Record against Rochdale
The two sides have scarcely met in recent years, but when they have, the Vikings have come out on top.
Their last meeting came in January 2025, as Widnes progressed through to the Challenge Cup Third Round with a 34-16 victory at the Crown Oil Arena.
Since the Hornets last beat the Vikings in 2006, the two sides have met on seven occasions, with Widnes winning each time, including back-to-back nilings during the 2007 season.
Last five meetings:
- Rochdale 16-34 Widnes (Challenge Cup R2, 26/1/25)
- Widnes 40-12 Rochdale (Championship R20, 7/7/19)
- Rochdale 4-50 Widnes (Championship R8, 24/3/19)
- Rochdale 6-62 Widnes (Challenge Cup R5, 17/4/16)
- Widnes 50-10 Rochdale (Northern Rail Cup R3, 20/2/11)
🗣️ Jack Owens previews semi-final clash
Hear from Vikings utility back Jack Owens ahead of Sunday’s 1895 Cup semi-final match against Rochdale Hornets.
🏉 Officials
The referee for this fixture is Scott Mikalauskas.
📲 Follow the game with the Vikings
Are you not going to be with us? You can keep updated with the Vikings’ official club coverage!
Vikings fans will be able to get full updates through our match coverage on our official X account – your hub to find out all the key news, including matchday line-ups, live game updates and post-game coverage.
