Hunslet Hawks 12 Featherstone Rovers 48: Repeat show sees Featherstone hand further lesson to Hawks

RAMPANT Featherstone blew Hunslet away at South Leeds Stadium for the second time in three weeks.

Rovers showed six changes from the team that eclipsed the Hawks 50-12 on the same ground in the Northern Rail Cup, but the gale-force conditions failed to undermine their passing game.

Hunslet, who again lacked player-coach Paul March, conceded three tries in each of two disastrous five-minute spells to trail 32-0 at half-time.

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Centre Nathan Chappell, who signed for Rovers on Friday after a trial spell, impressed throughout. He released the ball in the tackle to send winger Tommy Saxton in at the corner for the first try after eight minutes.

And when Stuart Kain lost possession in the shade of his own posts, Matty Dale accepted the gift-wrapped touchdown. Liam Finn added the goal and his kick from the touchline went in off a post to improve Rovers’ third try, scored by full-back Jonny Hepworth in the 13th minute.

Rovers defended strongly after their sprint start, but sustained Hunslet pressure failed to force a breakthrough. That was the cue for Rovers to reassert their attacking authority with another three tries in five minutes by Ross Divorty, Tom Hemmingway and Chappell, with Finn adding two conversions.

With the wind against his team after the break, Finn converted his own try and although full-back Kain and scrum-half Danny Ratcliffe scored tries for the Hawks, the home side failed to take full advantage of the elements. Hepworth collected his second touchdown and Andy Kain intercepted for Rovers’ ninth try.

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Hunslet Hawks: S Kain; Pryce, Haughey, Kear, Barnett; Grimshshaw, Ratcliffe; Sullivan, Haigh, Houston, Blakeway, Kelly, D March. Substitutes: Clayton, Lowe, Yates, McLocklan.

Featherstone Rovers: Hepworth; Powell, Smeaton, Chappel, Saxton; A Kain, Finn; Morrison, Hemingway, Haley, Grayshon, Divorty, Dale. Substitutes: Tonks, Dickens, Spears, Welham.

Referee: R Laughton (Barnsley).