Match Report | Sheffield Eagles 18-16 Featherstone Rovers

16/06/2024

Sheffield Eagles secured victory against Featherstone Rovers for the first time since 2016 in emphatic style this afternoon, following an 18-16 victory at Olympic Legacy Park.

Mark Aston named a host of changes from the side that suffered a 6-50 loss at Wembley Stadium against Wakefield last time out in the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final.

Evan Hodgson started to make his 100th career appearance, whilst there were also starts for the likes of Ryan Millar, Mitch Clark and Jesse Sene-Lefao.

Alex Foster also returned into the starting thirteen following his recent absence through suspension.

Kris Welham opened the scoring for the Eagles inside thirteen minutes as he picked up the ball following a brilliant kick through by Jack Hansen to score against his former side. Cory Aston ensured his kick was to perfection to bring the hosts into a six point lead early in the game.

The visitors levelled the game in the twenty-first minute as Caleb Aekins made a break through the Sheffield line, before playing the ball inside to Conner Jones, who crashed his way over the try-line.

Quick hands from the Eagles gave James Glover space on the left hand side to charge his way over the try-line to put us back ahead, before another successful kick from Aston took us into a 12-6 lead at half-time.

The visitors were first to score in the second half as Paul Turner’s quick feet took on a number of the Sheffield line, before he fired the ball out wide to an open Gareth Gale on the right wing to go over the try-line. Addy couldn’t add the extras, bringing the game to a narrow 12-10 lead for the Eagles.

Featherstone capitalised on a Sheffield error in the tackle with just over ten minutes to go as they went ahead for the first time in the game. Paul Turner collected the ball 30 metres out and raced away under the sticks to score, before Addy made no mistake from directly in-front of the sticks to bring the score to a four point lead for the visitors.

But it was the Eagles who secured victory three minutes from time as Kris Welham picked up a loose ball 30 metres from the try-line. With nobody around him, he walked the ball under the posts, ensuring Aston’s kick would complete a 100% record this afternoon and would seal an 18-16 victory for Sheffield.

The Eagles are back in league action next weekend with another game at Olympic Legacy Park, as we set to take on Widnes Vikings next Sunday (3pm).

Sheffield Eagles: Jones-Bishop, Welham, Glover, Dawson-Jones, Aston, Hansen, Battye, Halafihi, Clark, Foster, Sene-Lefao, Hodgson

Interchanges: Bower, J.Farrell, Gwaze, Wood

18th Man: Murphy

Tries: Welham (13’, 77'), Glover (31’)

Goals: Aston (3/3)

Featherstone Rovers: Aekins, Gale, Barley, Minikin, Eden, Turner, Addy, Springer, Jones, Albert, Wallace, Johnson, Nakubuwai

Interchanges: Harris, Fishwick, Tennison, England

18th Man: Wacokecoke

Tries: Jones (21’), Gale (53’), Turner (65’)

Goals: Addy 2/3

Attendance:1,444

Referee: R.Cox

MOTM: Eddie Battye