2 Feb 2025
FEATHERSTONE ROVERS FRIENDLY MATCH REPORT

Huddersfield Giants closed out pre-season at Featherstone Rovers, with the home side taking the win.
The Giants looked to finish off pre-season on a strong note, as Jacob Gagai featured for the first time at full-back, with Fenton Rogers returning from his suspension.
Jake Bibby went close early on, as he was brought down millimetres from the line by Rover’s winger Gareth Gale, however it was the hosts who did strike first.
Reynolds sent Hardcastle bursting through a gap and Bailey O’Connor supported and raced past Leo Ward, the supporting Connor Jones going over underneath the sticks.
They went over again, as Leo Ward was adjudged to have hit Josh Hardcastle late off the ball when taking a high ball, and they made the penalty count on our line, as Zach Herring danced through Sam Halsall to score.
That was how the half ended, with Giants being on the backfoot for most of the forty minutes, 12-0.
Luke Robinson’s side upped the intensity within the first quarter, restricting Reynolds to kicks out of yardage within his own half, and then came another flashpoint in the game.
Oliver Wilson and Zach Herring were both shown yellow cards after the sides came together, a number of times that the sides had disagreements during the second half.
We got our rewards for our persistence, as a slick move involving George Flanagan, Sam Halsall and Darius Carter saw the latter dive over in the corner the reduce the arrears.
Featherstone wouldn’t look back from this point however, as we suffered injuries to Matty English and Sam Halsall, Jonny Openshaw supported a break and went over underneath the sticks to secure the game for James Fords’ side.
Another try then came soon after, as new recruit for Featherstone Toby Boothroyd glided through a gap to score and further extend the home sides lead.
The game would end with Featherstone taking the pre-season win and we now move onto Hunslet in the Betfred Challenge Cup.
TRIES
CARTER
GOALS
Flanagan 0/1
