MATCH REPORT: Featherstone Rovers 34-6 London Broncos
Jake Watson • 6 April 2025
MATCH REPORT: Featherstone Rovers 34-6 London Broncos
London Broncos bowed out of the 1895 Cup at the quarter finals stage after losing to Featherstone Rovers at Post Office Road.
Broncos won the toss and opted to go down the hill in the first half which was a tactic that served us well in the last visit back in 2023. It was by no means a slow start but it was the home side who registered the first points of the afternoon but it wasn’t without controversy as it looked like the officials had missed a forward pass. After play had been allowed to continue Wynne and Aekins combined for the latter to score. Reynolds kicked the extras. Rovers 6-0 Broncos.
That try sparked Mike Eccles side into action and in the 15th minute the Broncos moved the ball well out to the left hand side where Liam Tindall found himself in space - who likes nothing more than green grass to run into. The winger ran almost 50 metres and cut inside to evade Reynolds to score a fantastic try. The conversion from Hellec was almost as impressive as he slotted it through the posts from a tight angle.
In the 20th minute Lewis Bienek returned to the action after missing the win over Hunslet and with his first carry eyed up his opposite number and ran straight through him. Just before the half hour mark Bienek would once again cause destruction to the Rovers defence. From 30 metres out he powered through two tackles and looked like a fantastic opportunity to score but he was stopped by the full-back and knocked on in the contact.
Broncos would then pay the price for not taking that chance as in the 33rd minute Aekins would score again as he smartly stepped inside two tackles to put the home side back in front. Reynolds couldn't add the extras but it meant it was 10-6 at half-time.
Behind at the break and now going up the hill it was always going to be a tough task at this point to secure the win and progress into the semi-finals. That being said it was the Broncos who started the better with Tindall presented with the best opportunity after picking up a bouncing ball 15 metres out he went for the grubber but it was smothered on the tryline and the chance had gone.
In the 47th minute Featherstone threatened to score again but after a knock on the referee had long blown his whistle before the try and the premature celebrations had happened. This would however prove to be a let off as the next score would follow in the 50th minute with Wynne scoring with a diving finish in the far left-hand corner. The conversion was missed but Featherstone scoring the first points undoubtedly knocked the belief of a comeback. 14-6
On the hour mark Aekins would complete his hat-trick as he somehow managed to free an arm and reach for the line. Reynolds would convert and Rovers would be almost certain of progressing. 20-6
Just a few minutes later a high looping kick was contested by Hellec and Featherstone’s Hatton and it would be the Rovers player who would impressively gather the ball and score the next try. The kicker had now changed with Ryan Hampshire taking over duties but he would miss with his first attempt. 24-6.
Heading into the final 10 minutes the depth of Featherstone’s squad began to have a real impact. It’s a squad filled with outstanding Championship talent and when they click they are a formidable side for anyone to come up against. In the 71st minute Featherstone would score again but again it looked like a forward pass had been missed. Hampshire would again be unsuccessful but the score had moved to 28-6.
There would be one final score for Paul Cooke’s side and it came in the 76th minute as Connor Jones managed to slip the tackle from Polselli to run over the line and a free run under the posts to give Hampshire the simple task with the kick. Final score 34-6.
LONDON BRONCOS: Walker, Hellec, Ball, Small, Tindall, Polselli, Binks, Worthington, Davies, Stock, Lovell, Adebiyi, Stock
Interchanges: Ross, Bienek, Mason & Davis
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Will play Featherstone Rovers in London on 28 Sep for a place in Super League!
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