Featherstone Rovers 20 Oldham 6: Defence key for Rovers as Ian Hardman leads way

FEATHERSTONE continued their solid start in the Championship with another excellent defensive display.

Full-back Ian Hardman and half-backs Kyle Briggs and Anthony Thackeray were key contributors as Rovers bagged their second win in three games.

Featherstone were 10-0 up after just 11 minutes but promoted Oldham fought back to push them all the way.

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Misi Taulapapa put Rovers ahead when Thackeray sent the Samoan international centre through a huge gap to score.

Six minutes later, Thackeray darted over for a clever individual try and Briggs added the first of his two goals.

Featherstone’s Thackeray and Kyran Johnson went close before Oldham hit back in 23rd minute when Richard Lepori went in for a try that Lewis Palfrey converted. Featherstone’s attacks sometimes broke down because of wayward passing and Oldham began to look more dangerous as the half progressed.

The visitors started the second-half strongly but it was Rovers who struck a vital blow in the 54th minute when Andy Bostock and Hardman combined superbly to put in Briggs.

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Featherstone did well to survive a period of sustained Oldham pressure before they rounded things off with hooker Danny Craven’s last minute try.

Colton Roche was held up over the line before Thackeray and John Davies made the opening for Craven to cross.

Featherstone Rovers: Hardman; Johnson, Channing, Taulapapa, Turner; Briggs, Thackeray; Griffin, Craven, Bostock, Cording, Spears, Tagg. Substitutes: Davies, Roche, Ormondroyd, Milner.

Oldham: Lepori; Clay, Bibby, Holmes, Chisholm; Palfrey, Grimshaw; Spencer, Owen, Joy, Hope, Langtree, Thompson. Substitutes: Hughes, Ward, Gee, Crowley.

Referee: C Kendall (RFL).