MATCH REPORT - THUNDER 10 - 46 FEATHERSTONE

Thunder dig deep but the Featherstone juggernaut motors on in Betfred Championship round 13

Newcastle Thunder became the latest Betfred Championship side to lose out to Featherstone Rovers on Thursday afternoon but delivered a heartily creditable performance against a side unbeaten in 13 games.

Naming six home-grown academy products in the match-day 17, Thunder battled throughout and were deservedly only two points adrift of the lauded Rovers after the opening 40 minutes.

They were unable to maintain that level of performance for the full fixture as Featherstone drew away in the second half, but will take the positives from matching Brian McDermott’s side for long periods.

It was a quick-fire start from the visitors who were two converted tries up after 11 minutes as they looked ominous with the ball in attack.

They crossed the Thunder line on their first set but were pulled back for a forward pass before a break by Luke Briscoe created a walk-in for Joey Leilua.

The winger made the most of the two-on-one as he fixed the last Thunder defender before laying on the perfect scoring pass for a try converted from out wide.

Featherstone’s lead was doubled four minutes later as they won the ariel battle to gather a lofted kick on the Thunder line with Matty Wilde the man to get onto the score sheet.

Having had that short, sharp shock in the opening stages, Newcastle regrouped well and determined efforts in defence allowed Eamon O’Carroll’s side to grow into the game.

Some heroic goal-line defence kept the Rovers from adding to their tally and as Thunder started to complete sets higher up the field, they were able to force uncharacteristic errors from the league leaders.

This aggressive and determined effort laid the platform for Thunder to get into the game as the first half drew to a close, with two well-taken tries seeing the hosts make the most of the opportunities they had created.

Getting a reset of the tackle count 10 meters from the Rovers line, two powerful drives from Thunder took them to striking distance and as the ball was shipped right to the wing, a neatly placed offload from new signing Ellis Robson played in home-grown fullback Alex Donaghy for a smartly worked score.

Thunder went close to back to back scores off the next set as Connor Bailey was stopped inches short of the line as Newcastle kept the ball in hand on the fifth before provider Robson turned scorer for the home side’s second try with the final play of the half.

The opportunity came as Featherstone missed touch with a penalty, with Donaghy gathering the high ball with ease before returning the kick with some athletically gained meters.

Going to the right-hand side again yielded reward with a neat pass back inside finding the back row, who has joined Thunder this week from Super League side Warrington and allowed him to canter in from 20 meters.

On-loan half-back Riley Dean’s conversion made it just a two-point deficit at the break, with Thunder deservedly within striking distance.

Featherstone struck early in the second half as they responded to their half-time debrief and were more clinical in their execution as they ran in seven unanswered scores to rack up an ultimately comfortable 12^th win of the season.

Thunder though will take heart from a much-improved performance and will look to build upon that when they are back in Betfred Championship action on Sunday at Kingston Park, against Sheffield Eagles in a 3pm kick off. 

Newcastle Thunder

22 Alex Donaghy, 5 Gideon Boafo, 35 Jack Croft, 23 Isaac Nokes, 2 Jack Johnson, 18 Dan Coates, 31 Riley Dean, 10 Mitch Clark, 40 Tyler Hepple, 8 Nathan Wilde, 14 Connor Bailey, 20 Brad Gallagher, 36 Ellis Robson

Interchanges

27 Josh McDermott, 19 Pat Moran, 21 Lewis Peachey, 25 Nathan Clemmitt

Tries: Donaghy (34) Robson (39)

Goals: Dean 1/2

Featherstone Rovers

1 Brandon Pickersgill, 2 Luke Briscoe, 3 Joey Leilua, 4 Craig Hall, 5 Gareth Gale, 29 Jonathon Ford, 27 Ryley Jacks, 21 Luke Cooper, 14 Matty Wildie, 12 Jesse Sene-Lefao, 17 Ben Hellewell, 15 John Davies, 16 Junior Moors

Interchanges

20 Morgan Smith, 31 Tyla Hepi, 13 Jack Bussey, 32 Sam Eseh

Tries: Leilua (6), Wildie (11) Jacks (44, 70) Smith (51, 65, 67) Bussey (57) Gale (76)