Featherstone Rovers 54 Hunslet Hawks 22: Featherstone hand out hiding to Hunslet to go back to head of table

Jon Hepworth scored three tries and Matty Dale two as Rovers leapfrogged Leigh on points difference with a match in hand.

Liam Finn was also a big contributor with nine goals from nine kicks as Featherstone stretched their unbeaten league run to 12 matches with their third win this season over lowly Hunslet, who have lost their last eight league games.

A stop-start match, littered with penalties, was marred when Rovers hooker Ben Kaye was sent off in the 69th minute for alleged use of an elbow.

Featherstone were 18-0 up after 23 minutes. Finn put in Jon Grayshon before Hepworth collected his first after Hunslet full-back Stuart Kain fumbled Tommy Saxton’s grubber kick 15 emtres from his own try line.

Hawks player-coach Paul March was sin-binned for dissent after winger Waine Pryce had an effort disallowed. The visitors fell further behind when Finn’s teasing kick caught out Hunslet’s defence and Hepworth pounced.

Hunslet, whose included six former Featherstone players, missed chances before Kain collected Sam Smeaton’s kick in his own half and burst clear, sending in Danny Grimshaw for a try that Jack Latus goaled.

Featherstone stretched their lead when Ross Divorty, Finn and Hepworth linked to put in Dale and early in the second half Kirk Netherton finished a move involving Finn and Hepworth.

Hawks hit back when David Clayton and Pryce sent in Tommy Haughey but Rovers quickly notched two tries in three minutes.

Bryn Powell went over and Kain crossed after a lovely break by Hardman. Grimshaw and Pryce scored further Hunslet tries but Rovers finished well on top when Hepworth completed his hat trick and Dale bagged his second.

Featherstone: Hardman; Powell, Smeaton, Hepworth, Saxton; Kain, Finn; Tonks, Kaye, Dickens, Grayshon, Spears, Divorty.Substitutes: Gledhill, Netherton, Mvududu, Dale.

Hunslet Hawks: Kain; Barnett, Clayton, Latus, Pryce; Grimshaw, P March; Sullivan, Haigh, Helme, Oakes, Haughey, P March. Substitutes: Houston, McLocklan, Kelly,Lowe.

Referee: M Thomason (Warrington).