Whitehaven 0 Featherstone Rovers 48: Title almost in sight for rampant Rovers

Daryl Powell's men aren't quite mathematically guaranteed to go into the play-offs as the division's top side, but Yorkshire rivals Halifax will now need a miracle to overhaul them.

Rovers opened the scoring via Zac Hardacre in only the second minute, as he gathered a cross-field kick from Liam Finn.

It was Finn himself who grabbed his team's second score, coasting over the line after some poor defending.

Hardacre's second on 19 minutes and then a try for Stuart Dickens saw the visitors pull clear before further scores before the break from Sam Smeaton and Carl Briggs.

The second half continued in much the same vein, with Andy Kain and Tony Tonks adding tries before Ian Hardman and Smeaton again crossed late on. The scoreline could have been much heavier, but both Briggs's kicking in the first half and then Finn in the second could only manage two conversions apiece.

In truth, Rovers were never really troubled in defence and coped comfortably with everything Haven had to offer.

The result, coupled with Dewsbury's victory over Batley, means the Cumbrians are almost certain to be relegated to Championship One next season.

Whitehaven: Benson, Eilbeck, D Miller, McAvoy, Hamzat, Skee, Dalton, Amor, Mattinson, Johnson, Hill, S Miller, Backer. Substitutes: Joe, Thornley, Bower, Wilton.

Featherstone Rovers: J Hardman, Hardaker, Smeaton, Welham, Straugheir, Briggs, Finn, Tonks, Kaye, Dickens, Grayshon, Spears, Dale. Substitutes: Divorty, Field, Manning, A Kain.

Referee: W Turley (RFL).