Featherstone Rovers 46 Hunslet 6: Classy Rovers prove too strong for rivals Hunslet
Fev scored two tries in the first seven minutes and never looked back.
Hooker Jake Sweeting opened the hosts’ account, racing 60 metres through a huge gap after Hunslet had driven on loan Leeds Rhinos forward Wellington Albert back with a three-man tackle.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdDane Chisholm added the first of his five goals and, after Matty Chrimes had spilled a last-tackle kick, Rovers extended their lead to ten points when Sam Ottewell went in at the corner off Louis Jouffret’s floated pass.
Featherstone, with the likes of Alec Susino and Albert making inroads, added to their tally when Josh Hardcastle drifted infield and sent Chisholm racing in from 40 metres.
Hunslet went close when Harvey Halls drove to the line, only for his over-ambitious pass to rebound off a team-mate’s shin.
Featherstone responded in more composed fashion, with Chisholm – aided by another former Leeds man, Brett Ferres, in the second instance – central in tries in the last six minutes of the first half for Hardcastle and Ben Blackmore, the second of which Chisholm improved from the touchline for a 26-0 interval lead.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHunslet, despite playing up the slope, had much more of the play in the second period and after Rovers had added tries by Sweeting, Blackmore and Chisholm, finally posted a consolation touchdown for Ben Heaton which Danny Rowse converted, Chrimes and Kiedan Hartley having previously gone close.
But Featherstone confirmed their superiority with a try two minutes from time by Conor Carey which Jouffrett couldn’t improve.
Featherstone: Hall, Ottewell, Carey, Hardcastle, Blackmore, Jouffret, Chisholm, Lockwood, Sweeting, Cooper, Harrison, Ferres, Albert. Substitutes: Bussey, Susino, Beckett, French.
Hunslet: Hartley, Boardman, Heaton, Ashton, Chrimes, Brown, Rowse, Braham, Conroy, Rowe, Tonks, Straugheir, Halafihi. Substitutes: Hallas, Ray, Aldous, Andrade.
Referee: Aaron Moore
Leeds Rhinos under-18s will take on Bradford Bulls at Emerald Headingley today (noon).