Tyrer kicks Halifax to late win at Rovers

Rovers, who had trailed 18-10 inside the final quarter, looked to have snatched victory when the Leeds half-back Jordan Lilley, playing on dual-registration, landed a 40-metre drop goal with three minutes to go to break an 18-18 stalemate.

But Halifax regained possession from the kick-off and, with the visitors pressing for a try, referee Chris Kendall awarded a penalty for offside that Steve Tyrer converted to clinch the two points.

Halifax had taken the lead after a fumble from Rovers’ Ian Hardman, the full-back spilling the ball to let in Gareth Moore for a try, converted by Tyrer.

Rovers responded and, after Jamie Cording had been held up over the line, finally broke their duck when Lilley slipped over on the left-hand side.

The hosts went in front straight after the restart, Misi Taulapapa crossing from Craven’s pass.

Halifax replied when Sam Smeaton rounded off an Adam Tangata break, Tyrer kicking the conversion for a 12-10 lead.

A second try from Smeaton, created by captain Scott Murrell, allowed Tyrer to kick Halifax into an 18-10 lead and they looked to be cruising to victory until a Scott Turner touchdown, converted by Lilley, put Rovers back in the contest at 18-16. They levelled with a penalty with six minutes to go, but more drama was to come.

Featherstone: Hardman; Johnson, Tagg, Taulapapa, Turner; Craven, Lilley; Griffin, Ellis, Ormondroyd, Cording, Davies, Spears. Substitutes: Bostock, Milner, Cooper, Baldwinson

Halifax: Greenwood; Eccleston, Smeaton, Tyrer, Saxton; G. Moore, Murrell; Cahalane, Kaye, Ambler, Manning, Tangata, Fairbank. Substitutes: R. Moore, Bennion, Robinson, B Moore

Referee: C Kendall (RFL).