05 September 2021

Rovers recorded another resounding victory with a 54-22 victory over rivals Halifax Panthers. Rovers started strong with an early, fifth minute try from Kris Welham, the ball moved effectively across the field from right to left finding Nu Brown who offloaded for Welham to pounce on and score over the whitewash. Halifax soon responded to first level the scores and then take the lead through Zack McComb, Connor Robinson adding the conversion. From the restart, we saw one of the most bizarre tries you’ll ever see scored.  Halifax failed to catch Hall’s restart on the full, the ball pinballed across the goal line, bounced off the uprights, was briefly collected by a Halifax player who then knocked it on into the waiting hands of Dane Chisholm who planted Rovers’ second try of the afternoon.  Hall converted to make the scores 10-6.

Rovers turned on the pressure and capitalised in the thirty-first minute through Gareth Gale.  An offload from Junior Moors was kicked forward by Kris Welham, who was able to collect the ball and leap over the try-line.  It was at this point you felt that Rovers took control of the game.  This was further demonstrated moments later when Ben Blackmore crossed in the opposite corner to give the Rovers some daylight between them and the Panthers. The offload from Hall to set up the try was magnificent. The try of the game followed shortly afterwards as John Davies collected the ball inside the Rovers 30m line and made a superb break before offloading to Dane Chisholm who ran in the try comfortably under the uprights to seal off a strong first half from the home side.

The second half started much like the first, great work between Gadwin Springer and Connor Jones saw Jones crashing over the line from short range. Halifax looked to pull themselves back into the game with a score from Matthew Garside.  Rovers were awarded a penalty in the fifty-second minute which Hall converted from the boot.  Just before the hour mark, Gadwin Springer set the platform once more to allow the backs to spread the ball wide to Blackmore who crossed for his second of the afternoon. Halifax replied once more with a try from Ed Barber, which was converted to take the score to 38-18.

Less than ten minutes later it was Gareth Gale’s turn to add a second try to board as he picked up a loose Halifax pass on the Rovers try line to run 99m. For a fourth time, Halifax replied – James Woodburn-Hall the scorer of a converted Halifax try. Ferres looked to have had the last laugh with his seventy-eighth minute try, collecting Chisholm’s loose kick. Nu Brown had other ideas and capped off a great performance in the halves with a superb try, stepping past three Halifax defenders.  Hall added the conversion to end the game 54-22.