Nine-try haul enables Rovers to close the gap

The visitors raced in for nine tries and remain second in the table behind the Centurions, who surprisingly went down at Doncaster.

The gap between the top two is now just 10 points.

Swinton opened the scoring after 10 minutes when Ed Barber went over, with the reliable Mick Nanyn booting the first of his four well-struck conversions.

Kyle Trout soon replied for Rovers, however, with Gareth Moore adding the extras, and then kicking a further penalty to make it 8-6.

Matty Dale dived over and James Mendeika scorched through for a try which Moore converted, but back came the Lions with a Nanyn penalty and Chris Atkin’s unconverted try.

Andy Kain scored Rovers’ fourth try, and converted himself, to make the half-time score 24-12 to Hay’s men.

Will Sharp was next to bag a try for Rovers, before the hosts replied with Martin Ainscough’s converted effort.

That dragged the hosts to within just 10 points of Rovers, but Hay’s men cut loose again late on.

Jason Crookes bagged a couple of tries to cap a smart second-half effort, while Andy Ellis and Chris Annakin’s converted try eased the visitors to an important victory.

Mike Morrison’s converted try for the hosts couldn’t stop Rovers’ charge to the winning line.

Swinton Lions: R Hawkyard, Walker, Nanyn, Barber, Burke, Atkin, Ainscough, Morrison, Ackers, Johnson, D Hawkyard, Bridge, Barlow. Substitutes: Hulme, Menzies, Brown, Bennion.

Featherstone Rovers: Hardman, Sharp, Worthington, Mendeika, Crookes, Kain, Moore, Crossley, Ellis, Trout, Kent, Pick, Bussey. Substitutes: Flanagan, Dale, James, Annakin.

Referee: Andy Sweet (RFL).