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Rovers lose high-scoring thriller
FEATHERSTONE ROVERS ended their National One campaign on a disappointing note with their fourth defeat in five games, losing 64-44 at home to Halifax.
Rovers, who missed out on the play-offs, led 18-0 and 32-12 in the first-half but were punished for dreadful defending.
Featherstone's Paul Handforth, Joe Hirst and Anthony Thackeray all scored two tries but it wasn't enough because third-placed Halifax dominated the second-half, sealing victory with four tries in the last nine minutes.
It emerged after the game that Rovers are close to announcing a new head coach.
Caretaker boss Danny Evans confirmed yesterday was his final game in charge.
Rovers have offered the role to former Castleford Tigers coach David Woods, but he has opted to remain at National Two champions Gateshead Thunder.
Evans said: "I was bitterly disappointed with our defensive effort. We were shocking.
"We just fell apart in the second-half and the players forgot how to defend."
Rovers made a blistering start with three converted tries in the opening nine minutes. Thackeray scored from his own high kick before Handforth's neat kick set up a try for Hirst.
Thackeray then darted over for his second try and Stuart Dickens kicked the third of his five goals.
Halifax replied with tries from Paul Southern and Shad Royston but Featherstone took charge again.
Andy Kain jinked through from close range before Hirst collected his second with a 75-yard run after he scooped up a dropped Halifax pass.
Matty Dale then grabbed Featherstone's sixth try to increase their lead to 20 points but Halifax struck back shortly before half-time with two converted tries in two minutes from Jon Goddard.
Rovers fell behind for the first time early in the second-half when Richard Varkulis and Damien Gibson both crossed.
Halifax then stretched their lead to 46-32 when Royston's second touchdown was quickly followed by a try from Sean Penkywicz.
Rovers looked capable of turning the game round when Handforth collected two tries in four minutes, both goaled by Dickens, to put them just two points behind.
But Halifax finished the stronger side, with Gibson crossing twice to complete his hat-trick and Lee Patterson two late touchdowns.
FEATHERSTONE ROVERS: Wildbore; Wilson, Saxton, Dooler, Kirk; Thackeray, P Handforth; Tonks, Lee, Dickens, Field, Hirst, Blakeway. Subs: Kain, Houston, Hesketh, Dale.
HALIFAX: Greenwood; Patterson, Goddard, Haley, Gibson; Holroyd, Coyle; Southern, Gleeson, Heaton, Varkulis, Smith, Royston. Subs: Penkywicz, Walsh, Wrench, Watene.
REFEREE: Robert Hicks (Oldham).
ATTENDANCE: 1,641.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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