Featherstone Rovers open with impressive win over Doncaster

FEATHERSTONE ROVERS 22 DONCASTER 4
THOMAS ALDERSON, Millennium Stadium, Sunday

A NEW-LOOK Featherstone side kicked their Championship campaign off in impressive fashion with a deserved and comfortable win over Doncaster.

James Ford’s side have recruited heavily in the off-season and fielded several new players, showing superior energy and physicality in trying conditions to eventually get over the top of the Dons to get their season underway in fine fashion.

For Doncaster, it was an underwhelming display in which they were outmuscled and dominated in the opening quarter, which ultimately set the tone for the rest of the match.

Rovers coach Ford was delighted with his side’s display, after completing at over 90 per cent for the game.

“I’m very pleased to get the two points. Doncaster have a lot of former Super League players who are hard to tackle and I knew we’d have to be good today, which we were.

“We were physical, our contact was good and we ran harder over the top of them and the boys really responded to the conditions and adapted how we had to play.

“It’s round one and I’m pleased but there’s still plenty to work on,” he added.

In contrast, Dons coach Richard Horne lamented his side’s poor start to the contest.

“It was frustrating, everything we spoke about in the week about the conditions and not getting outworked, but they outworked us today,” he admitted.

“They generated more ruck speed, kicked well to corners and only gave away one penalty all game, so fair play to them, they were the better team.

“The disappointing thing is the intent from us. That comes down to an individual attitude and they weren’t willing to roll their sleeves up, which we need to address,” he added.

Featherstone opened the scoring after just four minutes through Clay Webb, who took a lovely pass from Reynolds to crash over on the left edge.

The hosts went two scores up just before the 20-minute mark as Jayden Hatton touched down acrobatically in the left corner after a great break up field from Gareth Gale to put Rovers in control at half-time.

The second half was an arm wrestle but it was Featherstone who landed the killer blow through Hatton, who raced onto another fine Reynolds pass to score his second and put the game to bed just before the hour mark.

Webb then put the icing on the cake late on, showing tremendous bravery to claim a Reynolds kick in the in-goal to grab his second and put Rovers four scores up.

Doncaster didn’t give up and put together a well worked try on the right edge through Craig Hall with just minutes remaining to get on the board, but it was nothing but consolation as the hosts claimed a comfortable round one win, their sixth in a row.

GAMESTAR: Ben Reynolds controlled the game from start to finish, kicking well all game and providing two try-assists at crucial times to help his side to victory.

GAMEBREAKER: Jayden Hatton’s second try put Rovers three scores clear and effectively took the game away from Doncaster.

MATCHFACTS
ROVERS
1 Caleb Aekins
2 Derrell Olpherts
3 Carlos Tuimavave
4 Jayden Hatton
5 Gareth Gale
6 Ben Reynolds
7 Zach Herring
8 Gadwin Springer
9 Will Jubb
10 Jimmy Beckett
12 Toby Boothroyd
17 Clay Webb
13 Danny Addy
Subs (all used)
14 Connor Jones
15 Sitaleki Akauola
16 King Vuniyayawa
21 Jordan Williams

 Tries: Webb (4, 67), Hatton (18, 58)
Goals: Reynolds 3/4

DONCASTER
1 Craig Hall
18 Edene Gebbie
4 Reece Lyne
3 Brad Hey
2 Bureta Faraimo
6 Ben Johnston
7 Connor Robinson
17 Josh Bowden
9 Greg Burns
10 Suaia Matagi
14 Jacob Jones
12 Alex Sutcliffe
13 Loui McConnell
Subs (all used)
8 Brad Knowles
11 Sam Smeaton
16 Pauli Pauli
20 Isaac Misky