Featherstone edge out Halifax in top-four race

Jon Sharp’s side, winners at Batley last weekend, recovered from a 14-12 interval deficit to dominate the second half.

Halifax opened the scoring in the 19th minute, Steve Tyrer kicking a penalty after Jack Fairbank and Rovers’ Ian Hardman had been sin binned after a scuffle at the ruck.

But it was Rovers who took control with two tries in five minutes via Andy Ellis and Leeds winger Ashton Golding, Kyle Briggs adding a single conversion for 10-2.

Halifax cut the deficit when Connor Robinson claimed Scott Murrell’s kick and Tyrer converted, but Rovers moved 12-8 ahead with a penalty, but when Golding lost the ball from the restart, the home side punished them, Simon Grix slipping Ben Johnston over.

Tyrer converted for a 14-12 interval lead, which Rovers cancelled out with a Briggs penalty five minutes into the second half.

The visitors then retook the lead when Misi Taulapapa wriggled over on the left, but Halifax hit back when Australian forward Mitch Cahalane crashed over under the posts, Scott Murrell’s conversion putting them 20-18 up.

But a dropped ball from Will Sharp saw Anthony Thackeray take advantage, Briggs’s goal making it 24-20.

Halifax threw everything at their visitors, but never really looked like snatching a win.

Halifax: Johnston; Sharp, Heaton, Tyrer, Saltonstall; G. Moore, Murrell; Cahalane, Robinson, Tangata, Grix, Sarsfield, Fairbank. Substitutes: Ambler, R. Moore, B. Moore, Boyle

Featherstone: Hardman; Golding, Channing, Tagg, Taulapapa; Briggs, Thackeray; Bostock, Ellis, Baldwinson, Snitch, Davies, Ormondroyd. Substitutes: Griffin, Spears, Cooper, Mullally

Referee: J Child (RFL).