28 September 2014

Featherstone Rovers returned to the Kingstone Press Championship Grand Final by stunning defending champions Sheffield Eagles with 21 unanswered points in a dominant first half display. Rovers then hung on gamely for a nervous final 30 minutes as Eagles battered their line after clawing their way back into the game with two early tries in the second period. This result was a reversal of the league game only a few weeks ago at the same venue, and the major difference was the return from suspension of Gareth Moore, who dominated the first half by creating the first two tries and scoring the third himself. For added measure he chipped in with two penalties and a field goal. Featherstone completely dominated the first half through Gareth Moore’s passing. Steve Crossley and Matt James were both held inches short the ball was moved out left Moore’s long cut-out pass gave winger Ben Blackmore a half chance from which he forced his way over at the corner. The half-back then added the extras with a superb touchline conversion then edged his side further in front as he took the option of converting a penalty.

Sheffield came close on a couple of occasions, but Kyle Briggs was penalised for obstruction the first time they threatened, and Matt Garside was held up over the line after plucking Dominic Brambani’s kick out of the air. Rovers came down the other end from a great break by Jamie Cording which set up the position for James Lockwood to force his way over from Moore’s pass. After converting again from the touchline Moore scored himself as he followed up Blackmore’s break from the restart to take the outside pass and sprint home. Although he missed the conversion he kept the pressure on the Eagles with a penalty goal  and a majestic field goal to send Rovers into the break with a 21-0 lead.

Eagles stormed out of the blocks early in the second period and Kyle Briggs’ clever grubber forced a goal line drop out, and at the end of the next set a near identical kick was pounced upon by Peter Green over the line. Minutes later Quentin Laula Togagae followed up in support as Turner latched on to another through kick from the ex-Rovers stand-off for Brambani to slot over his second conversion to move them within striking distance at 21-12. Try as they may though, Eagles couldn’t find their way over the line again during a final 30 minutes in which they dominated but were held back time and time again by a resolute Rovers defence, which held up both Jack Blackbrough and Mitch Stringer over the line in successive plays, and stopped Garside inches short on a couple of occasions.