Featherstone Rovers 54 Whitehaven 18: Briggs leads way in Featherstone romp

TITLE-chasers Featherstone continued their perfect start in the Co-operative Championship with a 10-try win.

Kyle Briggs piled up 26 points with three tries and seven goals as Rovers avenged last season's 52-26 home defeat against Whitehaven.

Papua New Guinea centre Jesse-Joe Parker grabbed three tries and Liam Welham bagged two in Featherstone's seventh straight victory.

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They were 12-0 up after just eight minutes. Liam Finn sent in Stuart Dickens for his 50th try for the club before Parker crossed for his first.

Gregg McNally, who has rejoined Whitehaven on loan from Huddersfield, put in Reece Fox for an 11th-minute touchdown but Featherstone soon regained control with two tries in nine minutes from Welham who showed clinical finishing.

Whitehaven replied when Derry Elbeck went over but Rovers increased their lead to 32-12 before half-time with tries from Parker and Briggs.

The Cumbrians cut the gap to 14 points early in the second-half when Mick Govin's kick set up a try for Carl Sice and Carl Rudd kicked his third goal but Whitehaven's fightback was shortlived.

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Clever play by Briggs and Ian Hardman saw Parker complete his hat-trick before Finn made the opening for Briggs's second try.

Whitehaven's defensive frailties were again exposed when Aaron Dobek sent in Finn and Briggs collected his third try from Andy Kain's pass to complete the rout.

Featherstone Rovers: Hardman; Steel, Parker, Welham, Saxton; Briggs, Finn; Dickens, Kain, Tonks, Grayshon, Dale, Field. Substitutes: Divorty, Morrison, Dobek, Manning.

Whitehaven: Mort; Dawes, McAvoy, Jackson, Elbeck; Rudd, McNally; Thornley, Mattinson, Hill, R Fox, S Fox, Joe. Substitutes: Sice, McDonald, Govin, Gorski.

Referee: W Turley (Leigh).