03 September 2023

Featherstone Rovers overcame the Bradford Bulls to clinch the League Leaders’ Shield in an engaging contest at Odsal. Tries from Dan Smith, Gareth Gale and Caleb Aekins helped Rovers to secure top spot in the Championship after consecutive second-place finishes in 2021 and 2022.

This is only part of the job for James Ford’s side with their sights now firmly on the play-offs, but for much of the game the Bulls produced a determined performance. In a tightly contested opening Rovers grabbed the game’s opening try when Smith darted over from close range. The Bulls dragged themselves back into the contest Myers scored, and at the break Rovers held a slender advantage.

Featherstone started the second half like they ended the first - on the front foot. They looked certain to score in their very first set but the Bulls, somehow, kept them out on their own line and even forced an error. But Rovers weren’t to be denied for long. Gale stretched his legs down the left wing, 25 metres out, and  there was no way of stopping him. He was too fast and far too powerful. There was only going to be one winner as he charged over the line for his 25th of the Championship campaign. Bradford hit back when England scored and Rovers were under the cosh. They had three successive goal-line dropouts to defend and the home fans smelt a league-leaders’-shield-ruining-party. Aekins sealed victory, played in by Joey Leilua scattering, when he went over for his 14th try of the season. Kheirallah added the extras as Rovers secured top spot in the Championship with a 16-8 victory.