Perfect 10 for Sammut as Rovers bounce back to thrash Crusaders

James Mendeika scored three tries and debutant Jarrod Sammut landed 10 goals from 10 kicks as Rovers eased to their third victory over Crusaders in four months.

It kept second-placed Featherstone three points clear of Halifax, the side immediately below them in the table, but they finished the game with only 12 men after James Lockwood was sent off 12 minutes from time.

Andy Kain finished a lovely move involving Mendeika and Ben Blackmore to put Rovers ahead in the first minute.

Crusaders levelled when Sammut, signed on dual registration from Wakefield, fumbled Karl Ashall’s kick and Jamie Dallimore scored a try that Tommy Johnson goaled.

Rovers quickly took charge again. Andy Ellis and Kain set up Mendeika’s first try, Blackmore scooped up a dropped Crusaders pass to score and Ellis forced his way over from acting half.

Danny Bridge’s slick pass sent in Mendeika for his second and the centre quickly completed his hat-trick.

Sammut’s seventh goal put Rovers 38-6 up at half-time but they eased up in the second-half.

Rob Massam scored for Crusaders before Featherstone clicked back into gear when Sammut, Blackmore and Worthington paved the way for new signing Liam Kent’s first touchdown for the club and George Flanagan scored a spectacular 80-yard solo try

Lockwood received his marching orders and Crusaders full-back Johnson was sin-binned following a flare up before Jonny Walker scored the Welsh team’s third try.

Rovers had the last word with Will Sharp’s try two minutes from time.

Featherstone Rovers: Sammut; Sharp, Worthington, Mendeika, Blackmore; Kain, Sieyka; Crossley, Ellis, Trout, Kent, Bridge, Lockwood. Substitutes: Bussey, James, Green, Flanagan.

North Wales Crusaders: Johnson; Massam, Bannister, Reardon, Wilde; Ashall, Dallimore; Walker, Hudson, Martins, Middlehurst, Wild, Adamson. Substitutes: Soum, Govin, Roets, Smith.

Referee: A Sweet (Castleford).