By Martin Morgan Featherstone 54, Whitehaven 18

Last updated at 12:31, Monday, 29 March 2010

Featherstone 54 Whitehaven 18: Whitehaven were in trouble from the opening tackle of the match when forced in to a drop-out from which Featherstone scored their first of 10 tries.

Reece Fox

As befitted a team which had conceded just 36 points in their previous six matches, Rovers’ defence was impressive.

Given the old adage that defence wins matches, the Championship pacesetters should be looking forward to a great season.

On paper, Haven, arguably, had a stronger side out than last week at Leigh, but it was still much-weakened, with a handful of first-choice players injured, ill or unavailable, and too often they looked out-muscled up front.

Skipper Leroy Joe was playing only his second game of the season for Haven, with Andy Gorski, young Stephen Fox and dual-registered Huddersfield half-back Gregg McNally, all appearing for the first time.

Rovers never looked back after prop Stuart Dickens scored on their first set, and on eight minutes, the superb Jesse-Joe Parker broke down the right, and later in the set took advantage of his own good work to touch down, Kyle Briggs adding the second of his seven goals.

The swirling wind was playing a major part in the match, and when Rovers spilled Carl Rudd’s re-start, McNally’s delayed pass was taken by Reece Fox.

The young back-rower thundered down the hill on a great angle, shrugging off a couple of defenders on his way to the whitewash, Rudd goaling.

Haven’s euphoria was short-lived, however, Joe losing the re-start in the sun and then trying to trap the ball with his foot.

Instead it bounced in to the arms of an advancing Featherstone player and with Haven short on numbers on their right flank, Liam Welham went over the line with ease.

On 22 minutes, the centre was in again, after Howard Hill, perhaps frustrated at his team’s failure to make ground in the face of fierce defence, lost the ball in an attempted offload deep in his own half.

Haven’s re-start held up in the wind, and as they hacked ahead, winger Derry Eilbeck won the race to the line and touched down the loose ball. Rudd’s conversion reduced the deficit to 20-12.

Reece Fox was as keen as any for Haven, and his audacious ball-steal on his own line saved a certain try. But with the hosts in charge, he only delayed the inevitable, Rovers breaking down their right side and Parker completing the move.

With Haven tiring on 35 minutes, Briggs piled on the agony, breaking through weak defence, on Haven’s left side, to score, his conversion making the score 32-12.

It could have been worse for Haven, as the hosts crossed out wide with just five seconds left on the first-half clock, but this time the try was ruled out for a forward pass.

Sub Carl Sice gave his team a glimmer of hope on 43 minutes, latching on to Mick Govin’s kick to score, Rudd adding the extras.

But after Sice then lost the ball in a tackle 20 metres from his line, the tricky Parker completed his hat-trick.

Featherstone were starting to show some classy handling, and the home crowd showed their appreciation with warm applause for a superb set that ended with Briggs touching down.

Haven were caught offside from the re-start, scrum-half Liam Finn making the most of the strong position to score.

No 7 Andy Kain showed his guile to break through on 68 minutes, feeding Briggs who brought up his hat-trick.

Haven had a last-minute chance to redeem a little pride, Sice stepping through superbly, only to delay his try-scoring pass to Ian Mort too long and ref Warren Turley blew up for a forward pass.

Haven: Mort, Dawes, McAvoy, R Jackson, Eilbeck, Rudd, McNally, Thornley, Mattinson, Hill, R Fox, S Fox, Joe. Subs: Sice, MacDonald, Govin, Gorski

Tries: R Fox, Eilbeck, Sice; Goals: Rudd 3

Rovers: Hardman, Steel, Parker, Welham, Saxton, Briggs, Finn, Dickens, Kain, Tonks, Grayshon, Dale, Field. Subs: Divorty, Morrison, Dobek, Manning

Tries: Dickens, Parker 3, Welham 2, Briggs 3, Finn; Goals: Briggs 7

Attendance: 1,551

Referee: Warren Turley

Star Man: Reece Fox

First published at 11:29, Monday, 29 March 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk