Featherstone 36 London Broncos 4: Rovers lift Shield to give Sharp platform for next season

The Shield, contested by teams who finished from fifth to 12th in the Championship, was not the prize Featherstone had been hoping for this year, but their performances have given coach Jon Sharp something to build on.

The final was their eighth win in nine matches since the end of the regular season and the foundation has been laid for a top-four finish in 2016.

Rovers were in command from the kick-off, which was dropped by London.

Matt James crashed over for the opening try, after man of the match Gareth Moore had gone close following Ian Hardman’s initial break.

Paul Sykes, one of six former London players in Featherstone’s 17, converted and Ben Blackmore added a second try at the corner, from Moore’s high pass, to make it 10-0 after just 16 minutes.

London had a touchdown disallowed when Iliess Macani’s pass to Glenn Riley was ruled forward, then Rhys Williams crossed, but that was ruled out for a foot in touch.

Rovers put one hand on the trophy just before the break when Paul Sykes crossed

London pulled a try back early in the second half, through Williams following an error by Blackmore.

Sykes landed a penalty and James crossed for his second try, before Hardman, who had made a try-saving tackle on Sean Morris moments earlier, ran in Rovers’ fifth try.

In the next set Moore broke clear to race away from inside his own half, Sykes completing the scoring with his fifth conversion.

Featherstone Rovers: Hardman, Blackmore, Sykes, Minns, Sharp, Milner, Moore, Baldwinson, Ellis, James, Spears, Snitch, Bussey. Substitutes: Foster, Tagg, Coventry, Ormondroyd.

London Broncos: Morris, Williams, Hellewell, Kear, Macani, Barthau, Keyes, Riley, Cunningham, Thackray, Harrison, Garside, Davis. Substitutes: Henderson, Wallace, Everett, Walker.

Referee: C Campbell (RFL).