07 September 2014

The final day of the regular season and still so much remained undecided. It was the Cougars who took the initiative early on in the game; Danny Jones electing to take the two with less than ten minutes having been played, recognising it would be a tight game. The Rovers responded immediately through Hardman, as a result of great vision and a flat pass from Andy Ellis in the right channel. Keighley struck as both James Craven and Elliot Cosgrove were able to wrestle their way to the ground on the whitewash, despite desperate attempts from the multiple Rovers defenders on their right flank. Featherstone weren't without tricks of their own and Gareth Moore moved left and made full use of Will Sharp's untracked supporting run. Sharp then weaved his way through before touching down, to take back the lead ahead of Cosgrove's equaliser.

Both sides were fired up for the second half, with the scores level in arguably the most important game for both in a decade; determination, composure and perseverance were to be crucial. Featherstone were awarded a penalty for an off the ball tackle on Andy Kain after he had poked a grubber kick through. Moore slotted it between the upright to restore his teams lead. This didn't last long however, as Keighley quickly responded following a James Haley break, Danny Jones put in a kick which bounced back inches from the dead ball line over the head of Sharp and into the arms of Paul White. This was soon added to as Jones was able to put Andy Schickell though down the middle following another great break from Haley. The Rovers response came with a quick fire double. First Sean Pick dived on Kain's grubber and pounced over the line. Then Moore sent out a long cut-out pass to Jason Crookes, who blasted though his opposing man like a cannonball. Moore failed with both conversion attempts however, leaving the Rovers trailing by 24-22.

In the closing moments Sharp failed to take advantage of a two man overlap, but then as all hope appeared to be gone, an inspired cut-out pass from Moore gave Ben Blackmore an opportunity one on one. He proved too hot to handle for Daley Williams and Featherstone had done it!