Two-try Blackmore shines on his debut for Hay’s resurgent Rovers

Andy Kain scored three tries and debutant Ben Blackmore bagged two as second-placed Rovers recovered from 16-6 down to cut the gap on leaders Leigh to four points by ending Dewsbury’s three-match winning run.

The Rams, who lost captain Wayne Godwin early in the game with a broken arm, snatched a bonus point with Tom Hemingway’s late penalty.

New signing Blackmore’s try-saving tackle foiled Anthony Thackeray before Dewsbury took a sixth-minute lead when Shane Grady put in Dale Morton.

The Rams struck again five minutes later when Thackeray intercepted Kyle Briggs’s pass and raced nearly the length of the field to score.

Featherstone’s Will Sharp and Dewsbury’s Austin Buchanan both had efforts ruled out before Rovers opened their account when Kain darted over.

Dewsbury increased their lead to 10 points when Scott Hale crossed from Thackeray’s pass and Jordan Grayston kicked his second goal but Featherstone finished the first-half strongly.

Blackmore scored his first with a superb individual effort and Jack Bussey kicked two touchline goals to put them only 16-14 behind at the break.

Sustained Featherstone pressure early in the second-half was rewarded when Kain dummied his way over from close range to put them ahead for the first time.

Blackmore then raced 80 yards for his second try before Kain went in from Ian Hardman’s pass for his third score and Bussey kicked his fifth goal to stretch the home side’s lead to 32-16.

Dewsbury hit back when Thackeray made the opening for Makli Aizue to score although Featherstone then took a 14-point lead when Hardman grabbed their sixth touchdown, Hemingway’s last gasp goal salvaged a bonus point for the visitors.

Featherstone Rovers: Hardman; Crookes, Blackmore, Mendeika, Sharp; Briggs, Kain; Green, Ellis, Trout, Cording, Bridge, Lockwood. Substitutes: Bussey, Bostock, Dale, Flanagan.

Dewsbury Rams: Grayston; Morton, Pryce, Beckett, Buchanan; Hyde, Thackeray; Dowes, Godwin, Aizue, Grady, Hale, Hepworth. Substitutes: Hemingway, Gallagher, Nash, Haggerty.

Referee: G Stokes (St Helens).