Featherstone Rovers v Newcastle Thunder Match report by Daniel Crossfield (a dedicated flatcapper)

Featherstone Rovers v Newcastle Thunder  Betfred Championship Round 11 Saturday 26^th June 2021

This was a Saturday teatime clash and again it was 2 inform teams paling each other as Featherstone Rovers in 2^nd took on Newcastle who were mid-table going into this match.

Could Rovers make it 10 out of 10 in the Championship and keep momentum going ahead of Wembley in 3 weeks’ time, or would Newcastle inflict a first defeat of the league season on Rovers?

It was played at The Millennium Stadium

After four minutes,  Rovers went clsoe but a last ditch pass was intercepted.

A couple of minutes later, Rovers went close again but made a handling error.

1^st Fev try

After 9 minutes, Featherstone were up and running and Gale finished a mice move as the ball was worked out wide to the corner where Gale scored, unsuccessful converison by Hall.

Three minutes later, Newcastle has their 1^st chance and went close in the corner, but their player was bundled into touch by Rovers.

2^nd Rovers try

Just before the quarter of a hour mark, it was try number 2 for Rovers as Brown broke superbly and did a textbook dummy to set Jones up for a sprint under the sticks, successful conversion by Hall.

3^rd Fev try

Just after the quarter point of the game, the ball was worked out wide and Whiteley scored on his home debut , successful conversion by Hall and it was 16-0 already.

4^th Fev try

Two minutes later, back to back tries for Featherstone as Gale slipped through the Newcastle defence to score his 2^nd of the night, successful conversion by Hall.

5^th Rovers try

After 29 minutes, try number five for Featherstone as the play was spun right and Gale crossed for a first half hat-trick for him, unsuccessful conversion off the post by Hall.

6^th Fev try

Just after the half hour , Gale ran powerfully down the right before offloading to Hardcastle to score, successful conversion by Hall.

7^th Rovers try

After 34 minutes, seventh heaven for Fev as Rovers cut through the middle and Hall finished off a superb team move, successful conversion of his own try by Hall.

8^th Rovers try

There was still time before half-time for another Rovers try a minutebefore halftime, as More broke powerfully and put Gale in for his 4^th try of the game already,  unsuccessful conversion by Hall.

Halftime score:  Featherstone Rovers 44-0 Newcastle Thunder

A brilliant 1^st half by Featherstone again, Gale and Moors working well, and Gale on fire with 4 tries. Would the points tally continue in the 2^nd  half or would Newcastle make a bit of a fightback?

1st Newcastle try

Three minutes into the 2^nd half and Newcastle scored their 1^st try aas Gill broke the line and found Beswick in support, who combined with Nokes to keep the move going, and Gill was quickest to Woods’ neat dink of a dink to score, successful conversion by Woods.

9^th Fev try

After 49 minutes, it was try nine for Rovers as Newcastle cocneded a penalty which allowed Featherstone to clear their lines, then restarting from 30m out from the line, play was spun out to the wing and Gale took the ball at once and scored in the corner for his 5^th try of the night, unsuccessful conversion by Hall.

Six minutes later, Fev made a error which gave Newcastle a promising position, the ball went to ground but Newcastle regathered  a hack of a kick, and went again but Rovers defence remained resolute.

10^th Rovers try

In the same minute it was try number 10 for Featherstone as Jones broke the line to put Parata in to score under the posts, successful conversion by Hall to bring the 50 up for Featherstone.

11^th Fev try

A couple of minutes  later, Hardcastle bounded over from short range to score his 2^nd try, successful conversion by Hall

2^nd Newcastle try

With 15 minutes remaining, a consolation try for Newcastle after a period  of pressure as Beswick stretched over, successful conversion by Woods.

After 72 minutes, Trout made a dash to the Rovers line, but was absoloutely mullered by Davies and Cooper.

12^th Rovers try

With five minutes remaining, another Rovers try as Newcaslt looked to have wrapped up the player in the tackle, but Holmes scored in the corner, unsuccessful conversion  by Hall

13^th and final Fev try

With 3 minutes remaining, it was the final try of the game for Featherstone as Gale equalled a club record as he scored a flowing length of the field try for his 6^th try of the night, successful conversion by Hall.

Fulltime score: Featherstone Rovers 68-12 Newcastle Thunder

So another emphatic win for Featherstone as they march on in the Championship, its 10 wins from 10 in the Championship but despite being 6 points clear of Toulouse after this game, they were still only 2^nd in the table due to overall points difference between points scored and conceded.

Next up for Rovers is another home game on Saturday 3^rd July at 6pm agaisnt London Broncos, can Rovers carry on this momentum?