Widnes Vikings 4 Featherstone Rovers 44: Super League-bound Vikings handed lesson by Featherstone

Coach Darryl Powell was justifiably delighted with his charges but was already turning his attention to the play-offs.

He said “We’ve lost three games in the league campaigns in the last two years which is a significant achievement.

“Coaches always ask for consistency and you can’t ask for much more than we’ve been able to deliver.

“Obviously we’ve got to step over the line and be successful in play-off football now which is a little bit of a different story. We’ve got a tough challenge against Leigh but we’ll be up for it.

“We’ve got a group of players who’ve been outstanding all year.

“But we go into a new competition now.”

It was 17 minutes into the game before the scoreboard operator started to earn his money.

Quick hands up the right-hand side saw winger Ben Cockayne duck under a tackle to register a six-pointer for Featherstone.

Just five minutes later and it was Cockayne again supplying the finish after Tommy Saxton’s chip and regather had caused havoc in the Vikings defence.

Rovers were now well in command and it was no surprise when another slick handling move, this time up the left, put Saxton over for a walk-in try.

Finn’s fine touchline conversion gave Powell’s men 16-0 half-time lead. A superb offload from Ross Divorty sent Ian Hardman scampering to the posts for another converted score immediately after the restart.

Saxton added his second try of the afternoon to make it 26-0 before the home side finally broke their duck with a Danny Craven try. It was brief respite for Super League-bound Widnes.

Rovers really began to open up and further tries from Hardman, Tony Tonks and Finn completed the rout.

RFL chief executive Nigel Wood congratulated Featherstone on their success.

“Featherstone have been one of the most consistent sides in the Co-operative Championship over the past two seasons and their success in retaining the Leaders shield this season is testimony to the quality of their on-field performances in 2011,” he said.

Widnes: Craven; Flynn, Grady, Tyrer, Penny; J Coyle, Mellor; Kavanagh, T Coyle, Pickersgill, Leuluai, Allen, Haggerty. Substitutes: Varkulis, I’Anson, Tomkins, Crosby.

Featherstone: Hardman; Cockayne, Smeaton, Worthington, Saxton; Kain, Finn; Tonks, Kaye, Dickens, Grayshon, Spears, Hepworth. Substitutes: Bostock, Divorty, Muvududu, Netherton.

Referee: T Roby (RFL).