Sheffield Eagles 26 Featherstone Rovers 18: Sheffield produce dramatic finish to puncture Rovers’ perfect start

Eagles edged ahead in the final eight minutes to repeat last season’s Grand Final triumph, but Rovers keep the league leadership by taking a losing bonus point.

Eagles got off to a great start with Andrew Henderson providing the short pass for second row Michael Knowles to crash over.

Featherstone came back with pass by Patch Walker intercepted near the Rovers’ line and winger Tom Hodson raced 90 metres to the line. Liam Finn added the goal.

A penalty gave Rovers a repeat set and prop Anthony England went between the posts after taking a pass from dummy half. Finn added the goal.

Three minutes from half-time centre Tom Armstrong grabbed his sixth try of the season.

Dominic Brambani added the goal to cut Rovers’ lead to 12-10.

The arm wrestle continued after the break before centre Menzie Yere crashed over with Brambani adding the goal to edge them ahead.

Going into the final quarter, Finn squeezed over from dummy half and added the goal from wide out to put Rovers back ahead.

Eagles survived a spell of pressure before once again regaining the lead themselves with Mitch Stringer producing a critical offload and winger Scott Turner going over by the flag. Brambani added the touchline kick.

With a minute to go Knowles got a pass out to Yere who crashed over for his second try. Brambani finished with three goals from five attempts.

Sheffield: Laulu-Togagae; Turner, Yere, Armstrong, Taulapapa; Walker, Brambani; Howieson, Henderson, Stringer, Knowles, Staugheir, Hirst. Substitutes: Davey, Green, Szostak, Gledhill.

Featherstone: Hepworth; Hodson, Hardman, Worthington, Saxton; Bussey, Finn; James, Kaye, England, Lockwood, Spears, Bostock. Substitutes: Crossley, Bryan, Kain, Ellis.

Referee: Gareth Hewer.