Tigers edge tough Hull KR warm-up while on-song Featherstone keep Batley at bay

A BRACE of tries each from Jake Trueman and Michael Shenton helped Castleford Tigers to a hard-fought 30-20 win at Hull KR in Adam Milner’s testimonial game, while Featherstone Rovers beat visitors Batley Bulldogs 36-16 to complete an unbeaten pre-season campaign.
By Peter Smith
Published 14th Mar 2021, 20:51 BST
Updated 15th Mar 2021, 10:28 BST
Castleford Tigers' Jake Trueman scored two tries against Hull KR on Sunday. Picture: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.Castleford Tigers' Jake Trueman scored two tries against Hull KR on Sunday. Picture: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.
Castleford Tigers' Jake Trueman scored two tries against Hull KR on Sunday. Picture: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

Tigers ran in five tries to Rovers’ four and - after leading 18-0 at the interval - held off a strong fightback by the home side in the second half.

Trueman bagged the opening two tries and Niall Evalds - one of three new signings in Castleford’s line-up, alongside Jordan Turner and Lewis Bienek - also crossed in the first half.

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Jez Litten got Rovers off the mark early in the second period, but Shenton went over off a pass from Evalds.

Batley's Alistair Leek was among the try scorers in Sunday's defeat to Featherstone. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe/JPIMedia.Batley's Alistair Leek was among the try scorers in Sunday's defeat to Featherstone. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe/JPIMedia.
Batley's Alistair Leek was among the try scorers in Sunday's defeat to Featherstone. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe/JPIMedia.

Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Adam Quinlan then pulled tries back for Rovers and - after Trueman had been sin-binned - George Lawler’s touchdown cut Tigers’ lead to just four points with 15 minutes left.

Eighteen-year-old hooker Cain Robb impressed for Tigers in the closing stages and was involved - along with Gareth O’Brien and Evalds - in the move which led to Shenton’s clinching try.

O’Brien landed his fifth conversion from as many attempts.

Jordan Abdull landed two goals for the Robins.

Frankie Halton was a first-half try scorer for Featherstone in the warm-up win over his former club Batley Bulldogs. Picture: Paul Butterfield.Frankie Halton was a first-half try scorer for Featherstone in the warm-up win over his former club Batley Bulldogs. Picture: Paul Butterfield.
Frankie Halton was a first-half try scorer for Featherstone in the warm-up win over his former club Batley Bulldogs. Picture: Paul Butterfield.

Elsewhere, Featherstone ended pre-season with a 100 per cent record against Batley.

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Rovers built on their opening win over Oldham while Batley suffered a second successive defeat after last week’s loss to Dewsbury Rams.

Rovers made a fast start with Frankie Halton, Dale Ferguson and Dane Chisholm all getting over the whitewash before Aaron Hall responded for Bulldogs to make it 18-4 at half-time.

Ex-Leeds Rhinos academy full-back Liam Whitton scored Rovers next try, seven minutes after the interval and Jack Bussey and Dean Parata also went over before Batley rallied with tries in the final 10 minutes by Alistair Leek and Hall’s second.

Chisholm and another ex-Leeds youngster Harvey Spence both kicked three goals from as many attempts for Featherstone.

Dale Morton booted two conversions for Batley.

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Related topics:TigersFeatherstoneNiall EvaldsBatley

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