03 September 1921

PLUCKY FEATHERSTONE

In their first home match with the League champions as visitors Featherstone Rovers demonstrated that their promotion to senior league football has not been ill-timed. The score shows that they were beaten by 15 points, and this margin also means that Hull were the smarter side. Taking all the circumstances into account, however, Featherstone gave a great display.

To begin with, they had to find substitutes for Smith, full back, and Barraclough, one of their best forwards; but this was nothing compared to the fact that for fifty minutes they were without Norman Reeves, their clever centre and captain. Haigh came out of the forwards to the third line, and at this time Hull were leading by three points only.

Taylor and Kennedy made the score five points. Clements forged his way over with two men hanging on to him with Featherstone’s first try, and soon afterwards Reeves scored. The goalkicks failed but Featherstone, for the only time, held the lead. Stones first try was a good effort, and here it was that Reeves went off.  Wyborn, the old forward, who was the best man in the Hull pack, deserved his try, and as Kennedy added goal points, Hull led at half-time six points. Notwithstanding their five forwards, Featherstone continued to play a great game. Not until half-way through the second half did the form of the Hull backs approximate to the smartness of Williams, the two Dentons, and Hirst; but eventually the dash and finish of Batten, Stones, and Holdsworth told its tale, and the two last-named added tries, one of which Kennedy improved. Sandwiched between these was great try by S. Denton, the goal-kick failing. Three tries were missed by Featherstone’s over eagerness and lack of finesse.

Leeds Mercury 5 September 1921