Eagles lose to high-flying Featherstone

24/05/2021

Sheffield Eagles suffered a third defeat of the season on Sunday afternoon as the high-flying Featherstone Rovers took apart the inexperienced visitors 18-50.

Two Sheffield players returned positive tests, announced on May 11th, which saw the postponement of their away fixture against Halifax Panthers.

Mark Aston handed debuts to young winger Travis Corion and brothers Harry Tyson-Wilson and Bobby Tyson-Wilson, who were both selected on the interchange bench.

The unbeaten visitors made a perfect start in Doncaster, as Jacob Doyle touched down in the left corner before Gareth Gale extended the lead after some smart offloading.

Jack Bussey was the next to score for Rovers, he was in support following more good work from Gale. A Dane Chisholm conversion made it 0-14.

The Eagles hit back through Brad Knowles after the forward received a penalty due to Jack Bussey’s overzealous attention.

The stand-in second-rower barged over against his former employers before Izaac Farrell’s conversion narrowed Featherstone’s lead to eight.

James Webster’s side crossed the whitewash again through a converted James Lockwood effort. The Eagles weren’t going down with a fight, though, as Bobby Tyson-Wilson powered past the Rovers defence for a great score.

The former Hull FC youngster impressed on his first run-out in Eagles colours, with a try and several offloads in his stints from the sideline.

Callum Field added a try before Gale scored his second of the game to give the Flatcappers a 20-point lead at the break.

HALF-TIME - SHEFFIELD EAGLES 12-32 FEATHERSTONE ROVERS

Featherstone were first to score after an extended half-time break, with both medical teams kept busy dealing with a health incident inside the Keepmoat tunnel.

Nu Brown went underneath the sticks to stretch the Rovers lead, which was soon added to by Lockwood.

Chisholm converted Craig Hall’s try to make it 50 for the away side before Izaac Farrell went over for Sheffield.

Cute footwork from the stand-off created a yard space for a superb solo try, which Farrell converted to make it three-from-three from the kicking tee.

FULL-TIME - SHEFFIELD EAGLES 18-50 FEATHERSTONE ROVERS

By Lewis Coleman, photo by Alex Coleman