06 July 2014

Bottom of the table Hornets turned their form around to stun Rovers with an inspired performance that saw them retake the lead through prop forward Warren Thompson just before the end, after it seemed Featherstone had finally overhauled them only minutes earlier. Matt James seemed to have set up the platform for a Rovers victory with a storming run toward the Hornets’ posts, for Ian Hardman to force his way over from close range on the next play. Gareth Moore’s conversion seemed to have finally edged them into a winning position after playing catch up for the whole game.

First Hornets raced into an 18-0 lead inside 15 minutes, only for Rovers to compose themselves and level the score before the break. Their defence let them down again, however, as Millard scorched through a gap on halfway to create the opening for Sean Casey to force his way over. Then after Rovers lost the ball near their own line Millard sparked off a crossfield passing move for left winger Matt Dawson to score inside the corner flag. Millard was also prominent in Hornets’ early lead, chipping ahead, and gathering his own kick to release Lewis Sheridan on his outside, and raced up in support for the return pass that sent him under the posts.Rovers responded through Andy Kain halfway through the first period; first his long pass out to the wing allowed Jason Crookes to race in from 20 metres, then he scored himself, supporting Andy Ellis after a great break from Gareth Moore. Rovers even equalized when Steve Crossley barged over, but their expected step up into becoming the dominant force never materialised. They responded to Casey and Dawson’s efforts with Crookes’s second try off Kain’s crossfield kick, but were sloppy in dealing with Millard’s grubber, which was hacked on for James Dandy to pounce on the loose ball over the line. The fight back from Rovers finally came as Etu Uaisele scored from another Kain crossfield kick, before Hardman’s try finally edged them in front. But the gallant Hornets didn’t deserve to be denied at the death, and Thompson’s late effort rewarded them for an outstanding performance.