Featherstone Rovers to face Oldham and Batley Bulldogs in pre-season action

Star signing Junior Moors could make his first appearance for Featherstone in a pre-season game next month.

Rovers will face Oldham on Saturday, March 6, before a clash with Batley Bulldogs a week later in the first of what could be three meetings between the West Yorkshire rivals in four weeks.

Both pre-season matches will be played behind closed doors at Millennium Stadium, Post Office Road, kicking off at 1.30pm.

The Oldham game will be the first time Rovers have played since a Challenge Cup win over Hunslet on March 13 last year.

Rovers begin their competitive season at home to Bulls in the Cup first round on Sunday, March 21.

The winners of that will be at home to either Batley or Halifax Panthers in a second round tie the following weekend and Bulldogs will be back at Post Office Road on Good Friday, April 2, for the sides’ opening Betfred Championship fixture.

With training having been disrupted by the latest lockdown, Rovers coach James Webster reckons his players will need some match action before facing Bradford.

“As a group we are really excited to be closing in on the start of the season,” he said.

“As you start friendlies you always get that anticipation that competitive rugby is just around the corner.”

He added: “It’s fantastic that both Oldham and Batley have agreed to play us.

“We will be facing two strong, well-coached sides.

“We will be using as many players that are physically ready so we can prepare for the contact elements players have obviously missed now for 12 months.”

Both warm-up games will be available to view, free of charge, on Rovers TV.

Rovers’ Cup tie against Bulls will be streamed by the BBC.

Bulldogs’ Cup visit to Halifax, on Saturday, March 20, will be broadcast free by competition sponsors Betfred.

All early-season fixtures are expected to be played behind closed doors.

Championship matches will be live streamed via the RFL’s Our League site and will be free to view for the home club’s season ticket holders, with other fans charged a pay per view fee of £4.95.

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