Featherstone Rovers 40 Halifax 18: Unbeaten spell for Halifax comes crashing to an end at Featherstone

Captain Liam Finn scored a try and kicked six goals as Rovers recovered from 12-4 down after 30 minutes to trounce the side that inflicted their last home defeat 12 months ago.

Rovers, aiming to lift the League Leaders’ Shield for the fourth year running, are now just three points behind Halifax with a game in hand.

“Halifax were tough opponents and I thought they brought the best out of us,” said Featherstone coach Daryl Powell.

“We stepped on the gas in the second-half and played much more intelligently than we had in the first-half.”

Halifax led 12-10 at the end of a pulsating opening 40 minutes.

They went ahead when Anthony Thackeray sent Dane Manning racing over from 30 yards.

Rovers quickly replied when Andy Ellis forced his way through from acting half after Greg Worthington was halted just short.

Featherstone’s Matty Dale had an effort ruled out before Halifax increased their lead when Scott Murrell’s towering kick set up a try for Ben Heaton.

Rovers struck back six minutes before half-time when on-loan Frankie Mariano powered over on his debut and they made a superb start to the second-half by racking up two tries in three minutes.

Ellis and Finn put in Andy Kain before Tim Spears made a clever break to create the opening for Jonny Hepworth to score.

Rovers then ran away with the game, with Ellis’s inside pass sending in James Lockwood and Finn scoring with his first touch on his return to the field after receiving treatment for a facial injury.

Halifax’s Rob Worrincy grabbed a 76th-minute try and Steve Tyrer kicked his third goal but Rovers made sure they had the last word when Worthington darted over the line.

Halifax coach Karl Harrison said: “We showed a lack of composure. Everything we did was a little bit rushed and we certainly didn’t perform to our ability.”

Featherstone Rovers: Hardman; Sharp, Hepworth, Worthington, Saxton; Kain, Finn; England, Ellis, Crossley, Lockwood, Spears, Dale. Substitutes: Bostock, Bryan, Bussey, Mariano.

Halifax: Fieldhouse; Worrincy, Tyrer, Heaton, Paterson; Murrell, Thackeray; Tonks, Handforth, Ambler, Manning, Divorty, Adamson. Substitutes: Ashall, Bracek, Barlow, Casey.

Referee: G Stokes (St Helens).