Featherstone Rovers: Injuries knock gloss off cup success

Coach Jon Sharp said: “Duckworth hurt an ankle.

“He has been out for a while with the same thing and it looks like he’s done it again.

“Tagg picked up another injury to his ankle so we’ve got a couple which is not what we wanted – but in those conditions it was to be expected.”

Rovers defied rain and a muddy pitch to secure a place in today’s fifth-round draw and Sharp felt the victory illustrated the strength of their squad.

They were without Leeds Rhinos players on loan or dual-registration.

And Sharp said: “We made eight changes and people who haven’t played for a while got an opportunity, which I was really pleased with – players like Duckworth and Sam Day.

“Scott Turner got another game, Josh Hardcastle got a run-out and John Davies played at nine, which wouldn’t normally happen. I took a risk, but it was for the squad and the rotation and I wanted to give some blokes a game.”

Sharp reckons Rovers’ win was more convincing than the scoreline suggests. He added: “They scored in the last second and we had three tries disallowed – and we have photographic evidence of the ball being down for one of them!”