15 October 1921

Halifax Win in a Canter

Featherstone's official programme described Halifax as a team “with a brilliant record for keen, clean, brainy football," and the biggest crowd of the season (6,000: £200) attended on the occasion of the Blue and Whites' visit on Saturday. Taken generally, the Rovers supporters were sportsmen who belied reputation for urging their team to "kick 'em off ,stocking tops ": their applause was as readily forthcoming for Halifax as for the Featherstone lads. And the Rovers themselves, though occasionally lively, were quite well-behaved.

As scientific players, however, Featherstone have something to learn, but their pluck and persistence is as outstanding as ever. After the interval, they were a forward short— Jones having dislocated his shoulder— but they actually scored more points in the second half than the first.

In the opening 15 minutes the Rovers rushed Halifax, who took some little while to find their bearings on the confined and sloping ground.  But when Haigh had put his side ahead with a try, the Thrum Hallers woke up, added a try and a couple of goals, and thereafter had the game well in hand without the expenditure of any undue energy.  Featherstone came again near the end but their injudicious kicking allowed the Blue and Whites to win in a canter.

Stacey who opened the visitors' scoring by individual effort from his own 25, was in great form. Faced with a bunch of players he kicked as he ran to the centre, repossessed himself and ran over. Ackroyd, whose strong point is usually his defence, was not to sure on one occasion, allowing himself to be too easily hoodwinked. His try was the result of a smartly charged down kick, which he dribbled over. Lloyd, a livewire, scored once from an inside pass of Stacey’s and presented Beames with another beauty after the inside pass—how necessary this pass is on small grounds! — and the dummy had proved very serviceable.

Kitson was a great success, and vastly kicking, anticipation and tackling were improved on Hunslet form. His fielding, excellent, and Featherstone folk were delighted with him.  Every team plays a different style and Kitson is quick at appreciating the capabilities of the opposition. He was quite a hero on Saturday.

Higson, Haigh and Hirst were the best Rovers. Clements, really a wing forward, was a bustling centre, but like the other backs methodless.  Wynard, the Batley recruit, was not very troublesome, and the half-back pair were somewhat lacking in enterprise. The forwards were their strength.

Halifax Evening Courier 17 October 1921