Featherstone Rovers 34 Widnes 29 Widnes, with one trophy in the cabinet already this season, are the in-form team. Rovers, on the other hand, without key players, will have to avoid the mistakes of last week if they are to come away from this game with any points at all. In the end Rovers came up with another heart stopping display to come back to snatch victory in the last two minutes of the game against a very good Widnes side. In an end to end game that would have enthralled a neutral observer, they outscored Widnes six tries to five with four of the six coming in the last five minutes of each half. The match didn't start well for Rovers and supporters hopes sank as from the kick off Tim Spears came through with a swinging arm and the resulting penalty and a good kick into the in-goal area saw Widnes with back to back sets. From the second of these, Widnes, in only the second minute, stretched the defence to their right and although tackled Tim Hartley was able to release a beautiful ball to put ex Super League star Toa Kohe-Love in for a try which Hartley converted.
Twenty minutes of 'tit for tat' rugby, with both teams making good ground and little to choose between them, ended with Widnes getting two tries in the space of four minutes. The first of these came with breaks by Gaskell and Kohe-Love gaining the ground for a clever fifth tackle 'dink' over the defence by Hartley which was plucked out of the air by Paddy Flynn. He somehow managed to stay in field to touch down just before he hit the flag. The second also came form a last tackle kick. This time it was a bomb that was contested by Jon Steel and Dean Gaskell with Gaskell just able to touch the ball back to Anthony Thackeray, who simply had to drop over the line to score. Only one conversion but the visitors had opened up a ten point lead.
Most home fans would have accepted a six point deficit at half time but more was to come. A Widnes player was in the air to tap back a short kick off but Dwayne was quick, seized the ball and Rovers were streaming down the field again. This time it was the half back pair's turn to shine as Andy found Kyle with a flat pass and then wrapped round behind him to receive a good offload and cross to score under the sticks. The hooter went just before Stuart converted the try and the teams left the field as they had entered it; all square. As the second half started it was Rovers turn to score without Widnes having the ball. On the first set an excellent kick by Kyle coupled with Jon Steel's chase forced a drop out and after a high tackle lead to further possession, strong Widnes defence kept Rovers out until Tommy Haughey at acting half found the other Tommy, Tommy Saxton, coming at pace to drive over and score. A good kick by Stuart from well out and Rovers were in the lead for the first time in the game.
Both sides pressed for the next twenty minutes but it looked as if the home side might have to settle for their first losing bonus point of the season especially when, with eight minutes to go, Mark Smith dropped a goal to open the gap to two scores. The game was not over though and with the same 'never say die' attitude shown at The Shay two weeks previously Rovers were to send the home fans home in fine mood. A knock on from Rovers short kick off gave them possession in the Widnes half and after Stuart and Tim had driven close, a fast flat pass from Jack Lee at acting half put Stuart in for a try next to the post. He converted his own try to cut the lead to one point and set up an exciting final five minutes. In the end with possibly the best set of the match Rovers scored to take the points. The move started on the Rovers line as Waine Pryce fielded a kick through and dodged round the chasing players to reach the twenty. The forwards carried the play into the Widnes thirty before, on the last tackle, a beautifully timed pass from Kyle Briggs found Tommy Saxton storming up the wing to score. A touchline conversion from Stuart and Rovers were now five in the lead. A re-gathered kick off gave Widnes chance for a last gasp effort but, after a knock on by Varkulis, Rovers drove the ball up the field and saw the last seconds out for a well worked victory. With six teams separated by three points at the top of the league, any of the six must fancy their chances at the end of the season, but certainly if Rovers can produce more displays like the one today they will up there with the best.
Half Time 16-16 Referee Mr M Thomason Scoring sequence 0-6, 6-6, 6-10, 6-16, 10-16, 16-16, 22-16, 22-22, 22-28, 22-29, 28-29, 34-29 Crowd: 2125 © 2009 Stuart Lonsdale |
The kick off went straight into touch and Widnes from the penalty were attacking the Rovers line again and the home team were yet to touch the ball except to put it on the tee. Thankfully the threat came to nothing and finally Rovers were able to attack the Widnes defence. This they did to good effect as after a penalty gave them a second set, Tommy Haughey went close before the ball was spun to the right where Kyle Briggs stepped back inside and reached out to plant the ball on the line. Stuart converted to level the scores and lift the spirits of the fans.
It very much looked like this was going to be the half time score until, with only a couple of minutes to go, back to back penalties gave Rovers a full set to run at the line inside the Widnes twenty. Dickens and Tonks did the hard work before the ball was spread to the right. Dwayne Barker stepped up to the play the ball and after first starting the move back to the left to Ross Divorty, he was there to receive the ball back and with quick hands release Jon Steel to cross in the right corner. 
This lead was to last only five minutes before once again two tries in a short space of time put Widnes in front. For not the first time this season a lobbed Featherstone pass was intercepted, this time by Hartley, who released Anthony Thackeray to cross under the posts for his second try of the afternoon whilst Hartley's conversion leveled the scores again. Only minutes later and Widnes were in front when an excellent offload by Lee Doran on the last, put Paddy Flynn in for his second. Hartley converted, and the pendulum was swinging to the visitors with a six point lead.
