Featherstone Rovers inflict big defeat on Goole Vikings in their first-ever professional game

FEATHERSTONE ROVERS 46 GOOLE VIKINGS 6
CALLUM WALKER, Millennium Stadium, Tuesday

GOOLE’S first-ever professional game ended in a humbling defeat to Featherstone – but there was plenty to shout about for Scott Taylor’s side.

Jack Coventry made some big runs, Callum Shaw grabbed the Vikings’ first-ever try and Ben Hodder – the only player to make the step up with the club from the Yorkshire Men’s League – impressed off the bench for Goole, although Rovers did more than enough in the opening 40 minutes to settle the fixture.

Rovers didn’t take long to assert their authority over their League One visitors as Thomas Lacans sent Toby Boothroyd through a huge gap with the former Wakefield man scoring under the posts.

Featherstone were showing their might early on with Gadwin Springer skittling defenders from the kick-off before Brad Day did the same down the left.

And after Manoa Wacokecoke had knocked on a Josh Hardcastle kick, Connor Wynne demonstrated his strength to bounce past Tom Halliday in the corner. Thomas Lacans couldn’t add to his first conversion, but Featherstone still led 10-0 with a mere six minutes on the clock.

In fact, Goole were down to twelve men before they had even touched the ball as Halliday was sin-binned for a professional foul with Wynne on the charge.

The Vikings enjoyed some respite when they forced Lacans to knock on before Wacokecoke intercepted to run over halfway.

To say Goole grew into the game is perhaps hyperbole, but Taylor’s side did go set-for-set with James Ford’s men for the next ten minutes, before the visitors caved under Rovers’ pressure.

This time it was Caleb Aekins who delivered a neat little sidestep to break through around the midway point in the first half, converted by Lacans for 16-0.

Lacans was on target again as Rovers once more turned pressure into points moments later when, after Wacokecoke was forced behind his own line, Connor Jones scythed his way over.

There was little the Vikings could do with Featherstone’s power, pace and precision causing all sorts of problems in the West Yorkshire mud and Australian Zach Herring was the next to touch down following a jinking run.

Lacans couldn’t miss from in front for a 28-0 lead on the half-hour, and that was the Frenchman’s last action with Calum Turner entering the fray for the final few moments of the half.

Even though the Vikings kept Rovers out on the last attack, they couldn’t stop Wynne grabbing his second immediately following the resumption, the ex-Hull FC winger backing up a lovely Jayden Hatton break.

With Lacans off the field, Turner took over the kicking duties to make it 34-0.

Credit to Goole, who kept plugging away, but they were marred by what appeared to be a serious-looking knee injury to Joe Phillips, who left the field in discomfort, while Alex Holdstock picked up a shoulder issue.

And to make matters worse, Rovers struck again with another Boothroyd special from 30 metres out. They reached 40 points with Turner’s excellent conversion.

Remarkably, in an inexplicable turn of events, the hosts were down to twelve men for the rest of the game as Wynne was sent off for hitting out in the tackle.

Buoyed by the extra man, the Vikings secured their first points as a professional entity, as a great last-tackle move ended with Shaw stretching over.

Reece Dean converted expertly to reduce the deficit to 40-6, although Jimmy Beckett still had enough time to dot down as Featherstone ran out comfortable winners.

GAMESTAR: Gadwin Springer was strong throughout.

GAMEBREAKER: Two Rovers tries in the opening six minutes set the tone.

MATCHFACTS
ROVERS
1 Caleb Aekins
24 Maddox Jeffery
18 Josh Hardcastle
12 Jayden Hatton
2 Connor Wynne
6 Zach Herring
14 Thomas Lacans
15 Gadwin Springer
9 Will Jubb
11 Jimmy Beckett
12 Brad Day
22 Toby Boothroyd
20 Clay Webb
Subs (all used)
4 Jonny Openshaw
5 Calum Turner
7 Connor Jones
27 Jordan Williams
29 Dan Clarke
30 Max Rhodes
32 Robson Stevens

Tries: Boothroyd (3, 55), Wynne (6, 43), Aekins (21), Jones (26), Herring (31), Beckett (80)
Goals: Lacans 4/5, Turner 3/3
Dismissal: Wynne (66) – striking

VIKINGS
29 Jamie Shaul
2 Tom Halliday
3 Josh Guzdek
4 Thomas Minns
5 Manoa Wacokecoke
6 Mackenzie Harman
7 Reece Dean
15 Alex Holdstock
9 Jeylan Hodgson
17 Jack Coventry
11 Brett Ferres
12 Bailey Dawson
13 Lennon Bursell
Subs (all used)
8 Joe Phillips
10 Jack Aldous
14 Misi Taulapapa
17 Callum Shaw
18 Tyler Craig
20 Andy Ellis
22 Mike Ogunwole
23 Ben Hodder