HORNETS host Co-operative Championship outfit Dewsbury Rams in the Northern Rail Cup at Spotland tomorrow.

The Rams were undefeated on the road to promotion last season, with Hornets one of the few teams to run them close both at home – when they were beaten by a penalty on the hooter – and away.

It will be a big ask for the home team and coach John Stankevitch knows they will need a huge improvement, following Monday night’s 22-14 defeat by Oldham at Sedgley Park.

Hornets were reduced to 12 men after Dayne Donoghue was sent off in 42nd minute for a late tackle and the game also suffered from a fastidious referee, who awarded 33 penalties, making it nigh impossible for either team to find any rhythm.

Despite that, and an error-strewn display from his players, the Hornets’ boss took some positives from the game.

He said: "I was really disappointed to lose the game, but there are still positives although perhaps some fans might not think that.

"I thought we stuck to the game plan really well. The plans we had laid out during the week we stuck to, to the letter, which is a big positive. It shows the players are buying into what they have been shown.

"The main problem was the completion rate. Individual errors cost us dear and the pressure we put on ourselves was enormous. To have a player sent off put pressure on us anyway, and to complete our sets at a low level – around 35 per cent – you wouldn’t beat an amateur team with those stats.

"Add to that the penalty count, which in all honesty was an absolute shambles. I spoke to the Oldham coach Tony Benson after the game and we both agreed that the penalty count was uncalled for; it ruined the game for both sides.

"I just felt sorry for the players that the referee decided to handle it that way. Having watched the video, some of the penalties were very petty and had the referee given the benefit of the doubt it would have resulted in a more fluent game.

"It was just much too stop-start. Players couldn’t find any rhythm and I don’t think the game was any reflection at all on how either side will go this season.

"I always trust my players. I am really open and honest with them and I like to think they are with me. I spoke to Dayne straight after the game and his actual words were ‘it was ridiculous’. Unfortunately, the video doesn’t pick up the actual contact, it just shows the kick being made and then the camera follows the ball.

"Dayne says he has jumped in, made contact, but only with his back. He never raised an arm, never raised an elbow. He said the player in question made a bit of a meal of it, but he thinks the referee has made a snap judgement based on their players calling elbow.

"It definitely played a part. I was confident we could go out and win it. We definitely finished the stronger side and looking at the faces of some of the Oldham team and their body language I think they knew we were coming back, putting them under pressure and they started panicking. But we just didn’t have enough composure at key times.

"What we have to do in future is eliminate the referee from the game. If the referee is involved then we must be doing something wrong, so we need to make sure he isn’t.

"Results -wise it was disappointing, but bearing in mind the errors we made and the penalty count, to come away with a bonus point after having 12 men for 38 minutes was a plus."

Stankevitch will be hoping for better things from his players and the officials tomorrow.

He added: "Sunday’s game will be very tough. I am under no illusions as to what they will be about, but looking at their results from last year Hornets were the only team to push them close; and they did it twice.

"But I have told the players I want them to express themselves. I don’t want to create robots at the club and I don’t think we will do that. Against Oldham we were guilty of pushing too many passes and playing too extravagantly with too many offloads.

"We need to be more patient with ball in hand and consistent. If we can get to the back end of our sets and put them under pressure with kicks or last-tackle plays I think that will be a huge improvement.

"We thought we defended well and Oldham didn’t pose us any threat, it was individual errors that let us down.

"Overall, it’s just about improving individuals and we will work on that in training. The lads know they are not top grade internationals and perhaps they haven’t always been shown correct techniques. I have to pick up from where others have left off and show them what I want out of them. But it will take time; it’s not going to happen overnight."

Hornets have no major injuries. Paul Raftery has a damaged knuckle; Wayne English and Craig Tunstead have elbow injuries, while Chris Hough took a knock to his shoulder.

Stankevitch will definitely make some positional changes, and will look at the video of the Oldham match again before deciding on whether or not to make changes of personnel.

The match kicks off at 3pm.