Halifax 32 Featherstone Rovers 34: Finn holds his nerve to snatch late victory for Featherstone

Finn crowned a madcap last few minutes by keeping his nerve to add the crucial two points to an injury-time Greg Worthington touchdown and put the Co-operative Championship champions in front for the first and final time.

Halifax had outplayed Rovers for long-stretches of a compelling, high quality contest, leading 10-6 at half-time and then 22-6 with 25 minutes remaining.

By that stage, both sides were down to 12 men after referee Robert Hicks showed Rovers’ Michael Haley and Halifax’s Craig Ashall red cards after tempers briefly boiled over.

Two of Halifax’s four former Rovers – Paul Handforth and Sean Hesketh – combined for Hesketh to score under the posts, Steve Tyrer’s conversion putting the home side 22-6 ahead.

But a rare error from young centre Ben Heaton paved the way for Featherstone to register an almost immediate response, Tangi Ropati scrambling over in the corner and Finn converting to cut the gap to 22-12.

Five minutes later, Finn turned the ball back inside for full-back Ian Hardman to score, Finn converting for 22-18.

Fax responded with 11 minutes to go, full-back Ryan Fieldhouse taking a spiralling kick on his own line try line, swerving through a gap in the defence and accelerating clear before sending Paul White away from halfway.

Tyrer kicked the conversion and Fax led 28-18, but a fumble by Paul White let in Hardman for his hat-trick and Finn closed the gap to 28-24 with less than 10 minutes remaining.

But a horrible mistake from young Anthony Bowman, who delivered a short pass straight into the arms of Rovers stand off Kyle Briggs, allowed the visitors to race downfield. Rovers’ Andy Bostock ploughed over wide on the right to level at 28-28.

Finn missed the conversion, as did Tyrer after Heaton pounced for his second score of the game.

But at 32-28 and only seconds remaining it seemed academic until Worthington pounced.

Earlier, Halifax took the lead with tries from Tyrer, Heaton and Handforth, Hardman replying.

The sendings off that followed may or may not have changed the result, but they certainly changed the nature of a game, paving the way for a truly dramatic finale.

Halifax: Fieldhouse, Reittie, Tyrer, Heaton, White, Handforth, Thackery, Gannon, Penkywicz, Hesketh, Manning, Robinson, Ashall. Substitutes: Bowman, Chandler, J. Barlow, Ambler.

Featherstone Rovers: Hardman, T. Saxton, Smeaton, Worthington, Ropati, Briggs, Finn, Lockwood, Kaye, Dickens, Grayshon, Spears, Dale. Substitutes: Kain, Bostock, Haley, England.

Referee: R Hicks (Oldham).