FEATHERSTONE ROVERS 30 LEIGH LEOPARDS 0
LORRAINE MARSDEN, Millennium Stadium, Sunday
FEATHERSTONE have banished their demons from last time they were in Super League by securing their status in the top flight for another year with two games of the season to spare.
Having gone through the 2024 season without winning a single game and then losing to Championship winners Leigh in the relegation and promotion play-off, Rovers simply wanted an improvement this time around, and they have done with a fourth win of the season which, coupled with Barrow’s loss to Huddersfield, sees them safely second in the Shield table and mathematically safe from the drop.
Despite a largely dominant opening half-hour, Featherstone almost found themselves behind midway through the first half, but a great try-saving tackle from Beth Macmillan prevented Leigh from opening the scoring. Instead it was the hosts that went ahead just over 10 minutes later when Ellie Lamb went in, with Dani Waters adding the conversion.
Their lead was doubled before the break when Aaliyah Brewster spotted a gap and powered through under the posts, Waters again adding the goal.
Featherstone didn’t leave it as long to get the scoring underway in the second half with a quick fire double from Katie Evans increasing their lead to 22-0 within 12 minutes of the restart, Waters adding her only other successful conversion of the day to the first of those touchdowns.
The final 20 minutes saw Cerys Gregory get her first try for the club, before putting Chloe Billington through a gap to score Rovers’ sixth of the afternoon.
While Featherstone are safe, defeat for Leigh means that their own Super League safety could come down to an all or nothing clash with bottom side Barrow on the final day.
Currently the Leopards have a two-point lead over Barrow, but a worse points difference.
ROVERS: 19 Beth Macmillan, 2 Ellie Lamb, 3 Chloe Billington, 4 Lydia Fawkes, 5 Shavon Craven, 6 Charley Blackburn, 7 Liv Grace, 14 Gabby Harrison, 29 Cerys Gregory, 31 Téssa Benmalek, 13 Dani Waters, 16 Kacey Davies, 10 Emillie Holmes. Subs (all used): 8 Katie Evans, 15 Aaliyah Brewster, 18 Ash Prescott, 21 Nat Carr
Tries: Lamb (32), Brewster (39), Evans (48, 52), Gregory (63), Billington (73); Goals: Waters 3/6
LEOPARDS: 2 Toryn Blackwood, 3 Nicole Barnett, 29 Caitlin Padgett, 27 Rachel Lane, 17 Macy McDermott, 13 Storm Cobain, 31 Charlotte Meridith, 16 Lucy Johnson, 14 Abi Gordon, 11 Emily Baggaley, 12 Charlotte Melvin, 19 Libby Wall, 8 Eleanor Dainty. Subs (all used): 10 Mairead Quinn, 21 Olivia Hill, 26 Steph Grey, 32 Grace Brindle
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0; 18-0, 22-0, 26-0, 30-0
Half-time: 12-0; Referee: James Jaundrell