08 March 2015

Featherstone Rovers took an early lead and held on in the closing stages to edge out a spirited Halifax side that fought gamely throughout but were thwarted by desperate goal line defending as the visitors clung on to a narrow six point lead, before sealing the game in the final minute with a try from Dual-Reg centre Joe Arundel. Rovers opened the scoring as early as the 4th minute through Paul Sykes after good work by Godinet and Will Sharp, and came close 5 minutes later but Gareth Moore’s effort was ruled out for offside at the kick. Play was halted for 6 minutes after the incident as Fax’s Miles Greenwood was stretchered off with a suspected broken leg. The onslaught on the home line continued and Johnstone rose highest to take Moore’s kick and plunge over in the corner.

Stung by their early deficit, Fax came back stronger and laid siege to the Featherstone line, coming close through James Saltonstall and Jacob Fairbank before they finally got on the team sheet when Steve Tyrer pounced on a loose ball in-goal when Jy Hitchcox failed to clear. On the stroke of half-time Ben Heaton was halted short before Saltonstall was held up over the line from acting-half with Rovers hanging on for grim death. Early in the second period Ben Johnstone broke 40 metres downfield but Fax again failed to take advantage and Andy Bostock came close at the other end.

Then it was Jacob Fairbanks’ turn to bring Fax close with a 50 metre break but the Rovers defence couldn’t be broken and they held out gamely before Andy Ellis plunged over from acting half to extend their lead. Sykes converted and took the two from a penalty shortly after for a 12 point lead with twelve to go. It was game on from the restart however as Alex Foster knocked on a yard in front, and after Ben Johnstone was stopped inches short Mitch Cahalane forced his way over near the posts. Tyrer converted to narrow the gap top one score and fax hammered away at the Rovers line for the final 5 minutes before Arundel finally sealed it at the end.