The visitors opened the scoring with an 11th-minute try, Matt Firth's kick taking an awkward bounce and confusing the defence.

Paul Owen was the quickest to react and scored under the sticks, Mark McCully converting.

Chris Giles set up Lee Patterson for the Hornets' second try on 19 minutes, scoring in the corner.

It was 18-0 on 27 minutes after Phil Cantillon broke through and ran 50m to the line, despite a valiant attempt from Richard Johnson who tackled the player just as he reached the whitewash.

Crusaders deservedly broke their duck in the 36th minute. Shawn Van Rensburg was tackled a metre from the line and Luke Young ran in from dummy half, Damien Quinn converting.

Rochdale extended their lead on 41 minutes, Cantillon setting up Matt Sturm who broke through to score under the sticks.

Hornets' defence were put through the ringer by the Crusaders throughout the second half, but were ready for everything the Welsh put in front of them.

De Chenu, Van Rensburg, Cushion and Hocking especially performed well and were powerful in attack, but players such as Cantillon, Sturm, Gordon and Doran were their equals and prevented them from crossing the line.

Following a lengthy delay due to a leg injury to Luke Young, Rochdale extended their advantage thanks to Paul Owen forcing his way over the line on 65 minutes.

McCully kept up his 100% kicking record to put the score on 6-30.

Chris Giles ran over for another Rochdale try on 72 minutes to make the final score 34-6 to Rochdale.

"This showing was not good enough and not acceptable to our supporters," said Crusaders chief executive Chris O'Callaghan.

"The fault lies with me as a chief executive and works its way down.

"Our organisation was poor and the product that we put out has got to be far better than this.

"Commitment is one thing and we all, supporters and management alike, appreciate it, however football is about winning and we have to sharpen our act up.

"We're now out of the cups, but they were never our main priority.

"We have to ensure that all of our home matches are won, starting with Hunslet at Aberavon on 7 May, and then we can concentrate on pinching those results away which will help us in our league campaign."

Crusaders: Richard Johnson, Carl de Chenu, Dean Scully, Lenny Woodard, Paul Morgan, Luke Young, Damien Quinn, Ryan Barton, Jace Van Dijk, Phil Cushion, Karl Hocking, Shawn Van Rensburg, David Simm.
Subs: Darren Ryan, Carle Ellis, Anthony Seibold, Liam Gadd (not used).

Tries: Young (36)

Goals: Quinn 1/1

Hornets: Paul Owen, Mark McCully, James Burryan, Lee Patterson, Chris Giles, Sam Butterworth, Matt Firth, Rob Ball, Phil Cantillon, Matt Sturm, Richard Varkulis, Lee Doran, Tommy Goulden.
Subs (all used): Ian Gordon, Ryan Benjafield, Paul Norman, John Hill.

Tries: Owen (11, 65), Patterson (19), Cantillon (27), Sturm (41), Giles (72)

Goals: McCully 5/6

Scoring sequence: 0-6, 0-12, 0-18, 6-18, 6-24, 6-30, 6-34

Attendance: 480

Referee: Michael Dawber (Wigan)