Featherstone Rovers v Bradford Bulls Match report by Daniel Crossfield (a dedicated flatcapper watching from home)

Featherstone Rovers v Bradford Bulls Betfred Championship Round 9 Sunday 13th June 2021

This was the biggest game of the weekend in the Betfred Championship, as it pitted 2 in-form teams together in Featherstone Rovers and Bradford Bulls.  It was on OurLeague too, with fans in as well so it had the makings of a great game.  It kicked off later as well so it didn’t clash with England football.

Rovers came into it with 7 wins from 7 and Bradford have won their last 7 after losing their opener, so one of these teams winning runs would be ended, so which way would this match go, and they were also playing for the Peter Fox Memorial trophy.

It was played at The Millennium Stadium

After 10 minutes, Lilley kicked and Pickersgill got it back into open play, Kopczak  had to get it away for a Goal line drop-out. From the drop-out, Bradford had a good build-up play out wide to Foggin-Johnston who scored but it was a forward pass.

1^st Rovers try

Just before the quarter of an hour, Rovers scored the 1^st try and it was good link-up play between Hall and Lockwood, who offloaded back to Hall who passed to Jones who latched onto the ball to score under the posts to score, successful conversion by Hall who when he kicked this conversion had 1,500 points in his career.

2^nd Rovers try

Three minutes later, back to back tries for Featherstone and this one was enterprising and quick passing by Rovers as the ball went through hands and Hall scored in the corner, unsuccessful conversion by Hall from the touchline, but a belting start for Featherstone.

3^rd Featherstone try

After 22 minutes, Hall kicked it and it bounced off Lilley to Hall who passed it on the inside to Gale who scored, unsuccessful conversion by Hall.

On the half hour, Rovers had another chance but it came to nothing

4^th Featherstone try

After 34 minutes, there was another try for Rovers and it was nice one as Brown passed to Hardcastle who offloaded to Dagger who scored under the sticks, successful conversion this time by Hall and Featherstone raced into a 20-0 lead.

5^th Rovers try

There was still time for another Featherstone try 4 minutes before half-time and it was that old adage of back to back tries again as Davies broke and offloaded to Minns who rand and scored, successful conversion by Hall.

Halftime score: Featherstone Rovers 26-0 Bradford Bulls

It was an awesome first half for Featherstone Rovers, five tries and  some were well-worked, others were too easy, Bradford were poor, what would the 2^nd half bring, more Rovers domination or a bit of fight from Bradford?

After 46 minutes, a good start to the 2^nd half by Bradford and pass went to Oakes who scored, but it was a forward pass.

Four minutes later, Pickersgill went close for the Bulls but was held up.

After 64 minutes, Hardcastle and Hall combined, and then Rovers moved it wide to Gale who thought he’d scored, but it was ruled to be forward.

6^th Rovers try

Two minutes later and it was try number six for Featherstone and it was a team one and the best of the afternoon as Davies did a wonderful pass to Dagger who ran and offloaded on the inside to Holmes who scored, successful conversion by Hall.

A couple of minutes later, Holmes passed to Minns who then passed to Hall who then passed to Dagger who scored, but it was a forward pass again.

7^th Featherstone try

With seven minutes remaining, it was seventh heaven for Featherstone as Parata latched onto a pass and crashed over under the sticks from close range, successful conversion.

8^th Rovers try

After 76 minutes, it was try number 8 for Rovers as Field made a barnstorming run with ace and scored under the sticks, successful conversion by Hall, and it was 40+ for Featherstone.

The last action of the game came with a minute of normal time to go as Field passed to Halton but it was a forward pass again.

Fulltime score:  Featherstone Rovers 44-0 Bradford Bulls

So a brilliant defensive display by the Rovers to nil a inform Bradford side was excellent . Featherstone scored some nice tries but some of them were too easy. What Rovers are doing good this year is passing it more and scoring back to back tries more too.

It means Featherstone got the Peter Fox memorial trophy and more importantly remain unbeaten in the Betfred Championship and stay 2^nd despite having 2 more league points than Toulouse, Rovers stay 2^nd due to points difference.