FEATHERSTONE Rovers stayed on course for the Betfred Championship play-offs with a comfortable win over Sheffield Eagles at the Steel City Stadium, but their display was marred by a red card for Ben Reynolds in the closing minutes of the contest.
Rovers went in at half-time 12-4 up after converted tries from Connor Jones and Derrell Olpherts with Billy Walkley replying for the hard-working Eagles, but the margin could have been wider had the somewhat profligate Rovers taken even one of at least three more good scoring chances.
But three second-half tries from Olpherts, King Vuniyayawa and Clay Webb took the game right out of Sheffield’s reach before Matty Marsh notched a last- minute consolation try with Rovers down to 12 men.
Looking to bounce back from a disappointing home defeat by Widnes Vikings, Rovers needed a win to stay in fifth place and on course for the play-offs with two matches to follow against Oldham at home and Bradford Bulls away.
Head coach Paul Cooke opted for pace and mobility in his starting line-up recalling Bailey O’Connor at centre, Callum Turner and Connor Jones both started.
Gadwin Springer and Will Jubb missed out with injuries, but Cooke had a big bench available with King Vuniyayawa, Sitaleki Akauola, Jordan Williams and Robson Stevens as his interchanges.
Eagles, who had shipped 70 points last time out against Bradford Bulls set out looking to stay in the contest as long as possible, but they failed to complete their first attacking set, knocking on at the fourth tackle.
Rovers responded in kind with Reynolds, uncharacteristically, knocking on ten yards out and Rovers were almost made to pay by an Eagles counter which ended with the Rovers defence holding the ball up over their try-line to escape punishment.
Rovers went 6-0 ahead in the 14th minute when a powerful drive by Addy and clever timing by Reynolds sent Jones in under the posts, making the conversion simple for Reynolds.
Inside a minute and straight from the restart, Glover broke through and Jones picked out Olpherts, who touched down to the left of the posts and Reynolds again converted to make it 12-0.
The Eagles hit back in the 25th minute, catching the Rovers defence outnumbered on the left edge when Craven kicked to the corner and Walkley took it well to touch down in the corner for an unconverted score.
2 / 2
Beckett and Addy immediately made way for Akauola and Vuniyayawa as Cooke threw on the big guns in response to try to give Rovers more carrying power and penetration.
Rovers squandered their best chance to stretch their lead in the 34th minute, when Jones’ lightning break through the middle sliced open the Eagles defence only for the supporting Reynolds to knock on 10 metres out with the line wide open.
Rovers came out for the second half looking for more accuracy and they found it in the 55th minute when Day’s drive to ten metres out set up a Reynolds chip through for Olpherts to touch down with Reynolds converting for an 18-4 cushion.
Glover was held up over the line on Rovers’ next attacking set and that ended when Day knocked on just short of the Eagles try line, but the increasing Rovers pressure told when Turner’s line break and clever timed pass sent Vuniyayawa over under the posts.
Reynolds clipped over the conversion to give Rovers a 24-4 lead and valuable breathing space with 65 minutes gone.
Turner had to be helped off in the 67th minute with a knee injury and Beckett replaced him from the bench with Rovers looking to maintain the pressure on the Eagles defence and increase their lead.
They did that on 74 minutes when Reynolds sent O’Connor away down the left and his inside ball left the supporting Webb with a walk-in under the posts. Reynolds’ conversion made it 30-4.
However, the Eagles had the last word after Reynolds was sent off for dissent with a last-gasp consolation try from full-back Marsh right on the hooter with Craven kicking the conversion.
Sheffield Eagles: Marsh, Dawson-Jones, Welham, Oakes, Walkley, Johnson, Craven, Green, Bowes, Broadbent, Bower, Gwaze, Riley.
Interchanges: Battye, Butterworth, Millar, Matongo
Featherstone Rovers: Aekins, Gale, O’Connor, Glover, Olpherts, Reynolds, Turner, Beckett, Jones, Wilde, Day, ebb, Addy.
Interchanges: Akauola, Williams, Vuniyayawa, Stevens.
Referee: Tara Jones.