Bashed Rovers bounce back as Briggs shines

Jordan Baldwinson and Danny Craven each grabbed two tries as Rovers recovered from their 37-0 mauling against Halifax at Blackpool’s Summer Bash.

Kyle Briggs was also a key contributor with a try and seven goals as Rovers climbed above Bradford Bulls in the table.

Baldwinson put Rovers ahead with his first try in the fourth minute when he powered over from Briggs’s pass.

Swinton replied when Jake Shorrocks sent in Nick Gregson but Rovers regained the lead when Baldwinson bagged his second try. Featherstone’s Bradley Knowles Tagg and Swinton’s Shaun Robinson were sin-binned after a 22nd-minute flare-up.

The Lions levelled when Liam Marshall went over and Chris Atkin added his second goal.

Swinton’s hopes of only their second win at Featherstone in 53 years then suffered a double blow, losing injured Anthony Nicholson, before Briggs made the opening for Craven’s first try.

Swinton’s second-half collapse started as John Davies crossed to put Rovers further ahead.

Jamie Cording and Briggs then went over before Craven finished a lovely move to bag his second.

Swinton’s Matty Beharrell was sin-binned in the 69th minute as Kyran Johnson grabbed a superb 55-yard solo try before Davies created tries for Knowles-Tagg and Ian Hardman that Craven goaled.

Featherstone Rovers: Craven; Johnson, Hardman, Cording, Blockley; Briggs, Thackeray; Griffin, Ellis, Baldwinson, Spears, Davies, Knowles-Tagg. Substitutes: Roche, Ormondroyd, Bostock, Ward.

Swinton Lions: Fell; Robinson, Littler, Hallett, Marshall; Atkin, Shorrocks; Bracek, Nicholson, Austin, Lloyd, Gregson, Thornley. Substitutes: Beharell, Dwyer, Hand, Johnson.

Referee: T Grant (Leeds).