FEATHERSTONE Rovers served up, arguably, their poorest performance of the season at Post Office Road, dropping two valuable Betfred Championship points in a comprehensive defeat by Widnes Vikings, who moved up to just points behind fifth-placed Rovers in the race for the end-of-season play-offs
Rovers were looking to chalk up their 11th win in 13 matches to consolidate their place in the play-off reckoning with three more league matches to play – away at Sheffield, at home to Oldham and away at Bradford Bulls.
But, instead, they were made to look disjointed, devoid of attacking ideas and unconvincing in defence by a Widnes side which never looked in any trouble.
Rovers trailed 12-4 at the interval after conceding two converted tries with just an unconverted Gareth Gale try to show for their first-half efforts and with a tough job facing them in the second half.
When Widnes chalked up two quick-fire converted tries at the start of the second half to open up a 20-point cushion, even a try from Danny Addy, converted by Ben Reynolds, failed to spark any sign of a turn-around in the final quarter.
Looking a long way from their fluent best going forward and again showing the defensive frailty which has cost them dearly at times this season, Rovers had left themselves with far too much to do to turn the game around.
Derrell Olpherts’ touchdown late on in the corner and Reynolds’ conversion did little to improve the picture when, right on the hooter, Widnes delivered a last-gasp sucker punch in the form of a converted virtual walk-in try from Bennison.
With broken-arm victim Ryan Hampshire and Jimmy Beckett unavailable, head coach Paul Cooke called up Calum Turner at half-back and brought back club skipper Addy up front.
Bailey O’Connor was recalled to the centres and Josh Hardcastle was recalled to the bench.
Rovers started well playing at the right end of the pitch but they committed too many unforced handling errors in the early exchanges to build any real momentum in what was a tense arm-wrestle to begin with.
Widnes were first on the scoreboard with 16 minutes gone thanks to a well-taken try from centre Matt Fleming set up by powerful running through the middle by Dan Murray. Former Capper Dec Patton added the conversion to give the visitors a 6-0 lead.
Rovers looked to hit straight back and they notched their first try when Gale zipped over in the corner when the home side moved the ball to the right edge, but Reynolds was unable to add the conversion.
With Nathan Wilde and Jordan Williams on for Gadwin Springer and King Vuniyayawa up front and Connor Jones injecting some much-needed pace from the base of the ruck, Rovers were carrying the ball, albeit briefly, with more venom and exerting some pressure on the Widnes defence.
But they conceded a second try in the 38th minute when a strong drive from Ben Condon saw winger Mike Butt break through the Rovers defence with Patton adding extras to send Widnes in at the interval leading 12-4.
Rovers’ task got even tougher early in the second half when they conceded a third try, Condon forcing his way over from close range with Patton’s conversion earning Widnes a 14-point cushion.
That was stretched further in the 50th minute when Jack Owens touched down and Patton again added the extras to make it 24-4 to Widnes with Rovers lacking leadership and all at sea after the break.
With the game slipping away from them, Rovers grabbed a hint of a lifeline when Addy slipped over under the posts leaving Reynolds with a simple conversion to cut the deficit to 14 points with 18 minutes to go.
A strong carry from Vuniyayawa gave Rovers vital go-forward with five minutes to go and the ball was worked wide for Olpherts to touch down in the corner with Reynolds adding the touchline conversion.
But, rubbing salt in the home side’s wounds, Jon Bennison snaffled a loose ball 35 metres out and coasted in under the posts with Rovers waiting for a whistle that never came.
Featherstone Rovers: Aekins, Gale, O’Connor, Glover, Olpherts, Reynolds, Turner, Springer, Jubb, Vuniyayawa, Day, Webb, Addy.
Interchanges: Jones, Wilde, Hardcastle, Williams.
Widnes Vikings: Maizen, Butt, Owens, Fleming, Bennison, Patton, Gilmore, Murray, Johnstone, McWhirter, Roberts, Condon, Gregson.
Interchanges: Fozard, Lawton, Hall, Bibby.
Referee: Matthew Lynn.