Featherstone Rovers 36 Dewsbury 32 - Late strike from Briggs enough to break unlucky Dewsbury's hearts

Dewsbury looked set to end a 10-match losing run when they recovered from 30-16 down to lead 32-30 but Briggs broke their hearts with his late winner that took his match tally to 18 points and put Rovers three points clear of Leigh at the top.

Dewsbury's Ayden Faal was sin-binned in the seventh minute for impeding Liam Finn as he tried to take Matty Dale's pass close to the try line and Rovers immediately capitalised by snatching a 12-0 lead with two tries in three minutes.

Briggs darted over before Finn, Briggs and Jesse Joe Parker sent in Michael Coady.

The Rams replied while they were still down to 12 men when Luke Blake forced his way over for the first of his two tries.

Featherstone struck again when Finn ghosted through to score and Briggs kicked the third of his five goals but battling Dewsbury hit back to cut the gap to two points.

Dominic Brambani's high kick set up a try for former Rovers winger Bryn Powell and Ed Barber added his second goal before Brambani, Alex Bretherton and Rob Spicer made the opening for Scott Turner to cross.

Rovers took charge again, however, by scoring two tries in three minutes in the early part of the second-half.

Andy Kain's clever pass sent Ross Divorty charging over before Papua New Guinea international Parker bagged his 16th try this season by finishing a move involving Kain, Finn, Briggs and Ian Hardman.

The Rams hauled themselves back when substitute Anthony England scored with only his second touch after replacing the injured Faal.

Turner then had an effort ruled out for offside before he grabbed his second score from Austin Buchanan's pass.

The Rams went ahead for the first time in the 63rd minute when Blake plunged over for his second touchdown and Barber kicked his fourth goal but Briggs rescued Rovers.

Featherstone Rovers: Hardman; Coady, Parker, Welham, Saxton; Briggs, Finn; Tonks, Kaye, Dickens, Grayshon, Morrison, Dale. Substitutes: Kain, Spears, Manning, Divorty.

Dewsbury Rams: Buchanan; Powell, Faal, Bretherton, Turner; Barber, Brambani; Stenchion, Blake, Lockwood, Spicer, Bostock, P Walker. Substitutes: Emmett, J Walker, England, Hirst.

Referee: G Hewer (Whitehaven).