Featherstone crush poor Swinton to keep their top-four hopes alive

Featherstone’s first points came on nine minutes when Anthony Thackeray and Ian Hardman combined to send winger Shaun Robinson diving over against his former club. Hardman added the conversion and went on to kick 10 from 10 attempts.

Lowly Swinton dug in, however, and there were no more scores until the 31st minute as Rovers’ other winger, Luke Briscoe, finished off a good move after Misi Taulapapa moved the ball wide from John Davies.

Featherstone lost Scott Wheeldon to the sin-bin, but scored a third try before half-time as Hardman raced over after Davies made a break.

The visitors started the second half where they left off in the first with hooker Aaron Smith taking a Jason Walton offload to touch down for a try on his Fev debut.

The floodgates opened after the ball was spread wide and Misi Taulapapa went round two defenders to touch down in the corner. The tries were now coming thick and fast with Taulapapa diving on an Anthony Thackeray grubber kick, Thackeray going over from close range and Briscoe getting his second after backing up Taulapapa.

Hardman became Featherstone’s third highest all-time try scorer when he raced over for his second of the game nine minutes from time.

There was still time for Hardcastle to add another score following a great break by Davies.

Swinton finally puts some points on the board in the last three minutes, but Mike Butt’s try was no more than a consolation.