With Toulouse having been defeated by Toronto in an earlier match at the Summer Bash, York knew that a win would lift them level on points with the French outfit as they took on the Featherstone Rovers in the third game of an action packed afternoon in Blackpool.
It was a comprehensive 42-12 win for Rovers the last time that the two sides met and The Colliers knew that a win of any description would lift them into fourth spot and a play-off position ahead of the weekends remaining games.
Featherstone broke the deadock on twenty minutes in what had been an edgy opening from both sides. It took an opportunist try, a split-second Dane Chisolm interception and seventy metre run, to open the scoring as he outpaced the defence and gently lay down under the uprights to ground the ball. He added the extras himself for a 6-0 lead.
Three minutes before the interval Rovers added their second try through Connor Carey who took a Tom Holmes pass to score in the corner on a big overlap. Chisolm was unable to add the extras from wide on the touchline.
Then, in a double whammy, Luke Briscoe added the third two minutes later after a fantastic Chisolm step and break before scampering to the line to ground. Chisolm pulled his conversion wide of the near upright, Fev’ going into the shed with a well deserved 14-0 lead.
Ten minutes after the restart Carey got his second of the afternoon, again wide doen his touchline and again off a Holmes pass. A carbon copy of his first. Chisolm kicked the conversion from the touchline for a 20-0 lead, Featherstone were being ruthless and York had no response.
Two minutes later and Featherstones inspiration, Dane Chisolm, was again the provider as Brad Day pushed three York tacklers over the line to ground. Chisolm kicked the extra two for 26-0, there was no way back for the Knights.
On fifty-seven Alex Sutcliffe crashed the York line to continue the relentless Featherstone progression when he took a Chisolm pass to score from close range. Chisolm was again accurate with the boot, Rovers 32-0 ahead, York were having a nightmare.
A delightful try from Josh Hardcastle on sixty-two completed an intricate passing move which ended with a four on one overlap for Rover to score in the corner. Chisolm’s kick didn’t reach the posts but York were now well beaten and looking a serious second best.
Tom Holmes was next over, within two minutes, after a Chisolm high kick was flapped at by Tyler Dupree and bounced straight into the hands of the Fev’ half back. Chisolm added the conversion for 42-0 in what was rapidly becoming a rout.
York scored a consolation try on sixty-nine for the Knights to avoid the zero when Featherstone didn’t challenge for the high ball and Perry Whiteley was on hand to take the pass and go in. Connor Robinson didn’t add the goal from the touchline.
Joe Porter went through a big gap in a tiring Featherstone defence to run twenty-five metres to score under the posts allowing Robinson a simple conversion for double figures.
Scott Wheeldon was sin-binned in the last minute, but it mattered for nought as Featherstone sealed a 42-10 win.
This was Featherstone at their devastating best upsetting the pundits and bookies alike with a comprehensive win over a York side who never got off the bus. Dane Chisolm was inspirational for Rover who find themselves in fourth spot and snapping at the heels of today’s conquests.
Knights: Marsh, Salter, Hey, Robinson (G), Jubb, Teanby, Spears, Whiteley (T), Stock, Bass, Brown, Harris, Aldous. Subs: Carter, Blagbrough, Dupree, Porter (T).
Rovers: Golding, Briscoe (T), Hardcastle (T), Sutcliffe (T), Carey (2T), Chisolm (T, 4G), Holmes (T), Makota, King, Wheeldon (SB on 79), Walters, Day (T), Lockwood. Subs: Davies, Cooper, Harrison, Ormondroyd.
Referee: Billy Pearson.
Half-Time: 0-14.
Full-Time: 10-42.
Attendance: .
