Rovers score 13 tries to sink Crusaders

Winger Luke Briscoe bagged three second-half tries as Rovers booked a fifth round trip to Doncaster by knocking North Wales out of the competition for the third time in five seasons.

Skipper Ian Hardman chipped in with a try and eight goals.

Featherstone took a tenth minute lead when hooker Keal Carlile darted over for the first of his two first-half tries.

League One Crusaders levelled four minutes later with their only points of the game when Simon Atherton broke clear from his own half to send in Tom Johnson who converted his own try.

Carlile put Featherstone back in front when he went over from acting half for his second and they increased their lead when Matty Wildie scored from a kick.

Crusaders had a let-off when Tom Holmes was unable to ground the ball after chasing Wildie’s grubber kick but they fell further behind on the stroke of half-time when Brad Knowles plunged over from close range to make it 22-6.

Rovers shot further ahead four minutes into the second-half when Josh Hardcastle pounced on a John Davies kick.

Three minutes later, Briscoe stretched his try scoring run to eight consecutive matches and he quickly grabbed his second when Hardcastle put him in again. Luke Cooper’s powerful run then set up a try for Ian Hardman before Hardcastle raced over from 35 yards out for his second,

Meanwhile, Hunslet have been given an extra incentive to beat Bradford Bulls in their delayed fourth round tie, with the winners being drawn away to Betfred Super League Giants Warrington Wolves.

Hunslet will face Bulls at South Leeds Stadium on Easter Monday after the tie scheduled for last Sunday was postponed.

The full draw is: Warrington Wolves v Hunslet or Bradford Bulls, Toronto Wolfpack v Barrow Raiders (to be played at Barrow), Widnes Vikings v Coventry Bears or Pilkington Recs, Leigh Centurions v London Broncos, Whitehaven v Rochdale Hornets, Halifax v Hull Kingston Rovers, Doncaster v Featherstone Rovers, York City Knights v Catalans Dragons. Ties will be played over the weekend of April 21-22.