Blog Layout
MATCH REPORT: London Broncos 14-12 Featherstone Rovers
Jake Watson • 23 February 2025
MATCH REPORT: London Broncos 14-12 Featherstone Rovers
London Broncos started their 2025 home campaign with two points after an outstanding defensive display against one of the top sides in the division.
Like Bradford Bulls, who Broncos faced in gameweek one, Featherstone are fancied to challenge at the top end of the Championship this season so was always going to provide a stern test for Mike Eccles side.
Despite failing to pick up the win against the Bulls there would have been huge positivity taken from the performance that would give fans a degree of expectancy this afternoon which perhaps wasn’t there when the fixtures were announced.
That expectancy took an almost immediate knock as Broncos spilled the ball from the kick-off and Featherstone instantly had a set in front of the Broncos try line. It was an unfortunate start to say the least as Thomas Lacans wriggled over to give the visitors the lead after no more than a couple of minutes. Callum Turner added the extras and it was 0-6.
How Broncos would react to that knock back would be telling as the group are still so green in their development. But as is typical with a team coached under Mike Eccles they would stand firm and the game would begin to settle. Rovers would have the majority of the ball but Broncos were strong in defence and looked dangerous when given the opportunity to attack.
Liam Tindall signed permanently during the week and admitted in the post-match press conference he is still learning his teammates names! However, he was more familiar with where the tryline was. The ball swept across to the left-hand side as Tindall collected the ball around 10 metres out and he escaped the attention of the two tackles to get the ball down. Hellec’s conversion was from the touchline and was unsuccessful. 4-6 Rovers.
That try gave the Broncos a huge lift and the ascendancy was now fully with the home side. A Walker kick was lofted high and Huw Worthington did brilliantly to collect before offloading to Davies who passed to O’Beirne. The counter attack was swift and decisive as O’Beirne looped a pass over a head to Tindall who raced away to score twice in three minutes. Hellec’s kick was in an identical position and in challenging conditions it unsurprisingly went wide. Broncos 8-6.
For the second time in a row the Broncos would lead at the break. Not just a physical test for next 40 minutes but also psychological to stay in front,
The following 40 took a similar pattern with Featherstone dominating field position and possession without being able to break a staunch Broncos defence. As time went on you got the feeling that Featherstone were running out of ideas as to getting over the line.
That changed in the 70th minute as the opportunity was giftwrapped to the visitors as Broncos looked to score from a rare good ball set a loose pass from O’Beirne was intercepted by Carlos Tuimavave who ran 80 minutes to score under the posts. Rovers now in front and impending heartbreak once again, perhaps. 8-12 Rovers.
Now with it all to do the Broncos began to push for that score, which perhaps they hadn’t had the incentive to do prior to that Tuimavave score. They looked dangerous and Bienek came charging through and as he went past once tackle you almost expected the big prop to go flying over the line but he was somehow stopped a yard short.
But with three minutes remaining Tayor Kerr would cap a brilliant personal performance and score the try. The youngster on loan from Wigan had only had two training sessions with his new teammates but has clearly settled very well as he linked up play from hooker or loose throughout the course of his time on the pitch. He picked up and darted for the line from dummy half and Hellec held his nerve to add the extras and seal the win. Broncos 14-12.
BRONCOS: Walker, Thewlis, Small, Hellec, Tindall, Polselli, O’Beirne, McDermott, Davies, Bienek, Lovell, Adebiyi, Stock. INTERCHANGES: Monk, Worthington, Mason & Kerr
Tries: Tindall x2, Kerr
Conversions: Hellec 1/3
MATCH PREVIEW: Alex Walker previews 1895 Cup Quarter-Final London Broncos are in cup action this weekend as they head to Featherstone Rovers in the quarter-final stages of the competition. With the Broncos just two wins away from a place at Wembley with the game acting as a support for the Challenge Cup final, both sides will begin to dream of reaching the showpiece event. The last time the Broncos played in this competition back in 2023 they reached the semi-finals however they lost out to Halifax who would go on to lose to Wakefield in the final. Alex Walker was part of that side and was also part of the team that won at Featherstone the last time the Broncos played at Post Office Road. That win was in the play-off semi final where Broncos would go on to win the grand final in Toulouse and return to Super League. To watch the full match preview with Alex Walker click below.
TONY REA IN THE LEGENDS LOUNGE London Broncos are delighted to announce legendary former London Broncos player and coach Tony Rea will be the special guest in the Legends Lounge for the upcoming home game against Batley Bulldogs on April 12th. Tony joined the London Broncos in December 1994, and made his debut on Boxing Day in a freezing cold defeat at Leigh. The club was in transition at the time, with the Brisbane Broncos directors, who owned the club, signing Australian players to try to win promotion from the Second Division. Tony joined the club from North Sydney. He had played 120 first team games for Norths, including captaining them to the Grand Final in 1991.
London Broncos Heritage Numbers After making his debut in Round 3 of The Championship season away at Oldham RLFC, Jenson Binks receives the heritage number of 724. The 20-year-old is a product of the clubs academy and has been with the club since the age of 15. Binks, who plays as halfback, featured regular in the Reserve side in 2024 and has been handed the number 28 shirt this season by Mike Eccles.
Only one week left to sign up to the London Broncos Lions Development Training & Assessment sessions for U12s to U16s - Book Your Place Today!
GAMEWEEK: Featherstone Rovers vs London Broncos Off the back of another win at The Cherry Red Records on Saturday against Hunslet the Broncos move into cup action this weekend. We turn our attentions to the 1895 Cup and a place in the semi-finals is at stake when we head to Featherstone Rovers to take on Paul Cooke's side. The last time we were in the 1895 Cup we reached the semi-final stages of the competition and will be looking to go at least one step further on this occasion. Broncos have already faced Featherstone once this season and it was Mike Eccles side who took the win in a league game at Wimbledon. The last time Broncos played at Featherstone was in the semi-final of the play-offs in 2023 and it was the Broncos who picked up a shock win to progress to the final and ultimately seal promotion back to Super League. To buy tickets for the game click the link below! #WeAreLondon
Hemel Stags win the U16s in Brentwood while Elmbridge Eagles win the U14s in Elmbridge in London Junior League Pre-Season Nines Tournaments
Langley Park, St James' Boys and Dorothy Stringer all travel North to face major opposition in the National Champion Schools Knock-Out Rounds
LONDON BRONCOS V HUNSLET (by David Ballheimer) London Broncos (16) 26, Hunslet (0) 6 London Broncos produced one of their most dominant defensive performances in recent memory as they beat Hunslet at the Cherry Red Records Stadium on Saturday night. Such was London’s control of the ruck that the Yorkshiremen had only one attack on the London line, and they turned over the ball-carrier before he could ground the ball. At the other end, Hunslet could not cope with the power and strength of London’s ball-carriers. The Broncos made a great start, scoring on their second possession, courtesy of Marcus Stock, who found a way through three tacklers before stretching over the line and grounding the ball. Most of the credit, however, belonged to Huw Worthington, who charged 35 metres downfield returning a kick. Four minutes later, Stock turned provider, turning in a tackle and sending Luke Polselli over. The half-back was able to run behind the posts to make Chris Hellec’s second conversion even easier than his first.
MATCH GALLERY: London Broncos 26-6 Hunslet RLFC You can now look at the best images from a winning afternoon for Mike Eccles Broncos who maintained their 100% home record in the league this season. Tries in the first half Marcus Stock, Luke Polselli & Alex Walker gave the Broncos a 16-0 lead at the break before tries from Aaron Small and Liam Tindall secured the points. RFL President Adam Hills MBE attended the game as our special guest. #WeAreLondon
RFL President Adam Hills MBE visits London Broncos We welcomed Adam Hills to The Cherry Red Records Stadium on Saturday for the visit of Hunslet RLFC as he completes a mini tour of clubs in the Championship and League One. This wasn't Hills first trip to Wimbledon, as a supporter of Warrington Wolves, he attended the Super League game last season and was a big fan of the facilities on offer. You can watch the interview with Adam on the link below as we discuss a wide range of topics! #WeAreLondon
Office
London rugby league ltd
Parkshot House
5 Kew Road
Richmond, Surrey
tw9 2pr
Telephone: 0203 368 6455 (Monday- Friday, 9am-5pm)
9-5
Email us