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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
POST MATCH: Liam Tindall's try scoring debut New signing Liam Tindall has admitted he's still learning his new teammates names after joining the London club on Tuesday. It was an outstanding start to life as a Bronco with two first-half tries contributing to an outstanding win for Mike Eccles' side. Tindall also admitted he hasn't done a "proper rugby session" since December! To watch the full interview with Liam click below the article.
POST-MATCH: Mike Eccles following Featherstone victory. The thoughts of London Broncos head coach Mike Eccles following the win over Featherstone Rovers at The Cherry Red Records Stadium. Tries from Liam Tindall and Taylor Kerr proved the difference as they impressed on debuts. BRONCOS 14-12 ROVERS #WeAreLondon
GALLERY: London Broncos 14-12 Featherstone Rovers Take a look at some of the best pictures from this afternoon's Championship win over Featherstone Rovers at The Cherry Red Records Stadium Liam Tindall with two tries on debut before Taylor Kerr (also on debut) scores the winning try late on. #WeAreLondon
TEAM NEWS: London Broncos vs Featherstone Rovers Here is your starting line-up for this afternoon’s Championship clash with Featherstone Rovers at The Cherry Red Records Stadium. There is just one change which sees a reshuffle of the backs with Liam Tindall coming in to make his debut in place of Zac Bardsley Rowe. Chris Hellec comes into the centre and Liam Tindall takes up a starting position on the wing. There is also one change to the interchanges from last week as Taylor Kerr, on loan from Wigan, comes in for Matt Ross. #WeAreLondon
Mike Eccles: “We’ve licked our wounds after Bradford and we are ready to go!” London Broncos Director of Rugby & Performance has done his pre-match interview ahead of the first home league game of the season against Featherstone Rovers. It is the first time Broncos have been back at Plough Lane since September 1st and there Mike says there is a lot of excitement to be back on home turf. To watch the full interview with Mike click the link below. #WeAreLondon
WHO HAS PLAYED FOR BOTH: London Broncos and Featherstone Rovers London Broncos have enjoyed many tough encounters with Championship rivals Featherstone Rovers over the years and that rivalry will be renewed on Sunday as the two sides meet at The Cherry Red Records Stadium. Jordan Williams will return to Wimbledon for the first time as an opposing player this weekend after graduating from the Broncos academy and going on to play 85 times. But who else has played for both? We have taken a look at SOME of those to have done it. Can you name any more? Wellington Albert The popular PNG prop was at Featherstone for the 2024 season after two seasons in London. Albert played 42 times for Broncos in Wimbledon and quickly became a fans favourite, featuring in the run which saw the club promoted back to Super League. The 30-year-old also had two loan spells at Featherstone whilst at Leeds before coming to London in 2022.
MATCHDAY GUIDE: London Broncos vs Featherstone Our opening home game of the season is quickly approaching and we are excited to be able to share the matchday guide with you for this event to ensure you have the best possible experience backing the Broncos against Featherstone Rovers. Important times to note: 13:00- Gates/Hospitality/Ticket Office opens. 15:00- London Broncos vs Featherstone Rovers KO 15:40- London Broncos vs Featherstone Rovers HT 16:30- London Broncos vs Featherstone Rovers FT 17:00 – Hospitality Last Orders 18:00 – Hospitality Closes Travel: Travelling by train, you can get to either Earlsfield (12 minutes from London Waterloo) or Wimbledon (16 minutes from London Waterloo) station which are both walkable distances from the stadium (17 minutes/0.8 miles from Earlsfield, 29 minutes/1.4 miles from Wimbledon). You can also take a taxi/uber from these stations which will take around 5 minutes from either station. Unfortunately, there is no parking available at the stadium. Home Fans/Away Fans Please may all fans enter through Gate 3 (on the right of the main reception opposite Starbucks). From this point, you will need your ticket with the barcode, which is going to be scanned as you enter. You can bring bags into the stadium but they will be checked by security/stewards upon entry. Season ticket holders will also access the stadium from Gate 3 using their membership card. Please note: If you haven’t collected your season ticket, collection will be from main reception between 1pm and 3pm. Mug Collection If you purchased a ‘Back the Broncos’ Membership this season, you will be able to collect your London Broncos mug from the main reception between 16:30pm and 17:30pm. Due to safety restrictions in the ground, you will not be able to collect before.
INTERVIEW: Marcus Stock previews Featherstone Rovers Marcus Stock has spoken to London Broncos media ahead of the first home game of the season against Featherstone Rovers. The 28-year-old endured a difficult pre-season after picking up an injury in the first couple of weeks but returned for the season opener away to Bradford to put in a strong performance. Stock believes that Broncos will once again be underdogs this weekend - but that's a position he is more than comfortable being in.
Details for our 1895 Cup fixture with Dewsbury Rams have now been confirmed. Tickets for this game will be released on Monday. #WeAreLondon
PRESS RELEASE: London Rugby League Foundation London Broncos are delighted to announce that the club has become the sole Member of the London Rugby League Foundation. The London Broncos Rugby League Foundation was originally launched in 2009, as the then Harlequins Rugby League Foundation, before the RFL took over the Membership in 2015. This has since been known as the London Rugby League Foundation. In reverting back to London Broncos being the sole Member of the foundation this will enable far better collaboration and coordination between the London Broncos, the Community Clubs and the RFL for the benefit of the game as a whole. The benefits of such collaboration can already be seen in: The Broncos efforts to encourage Community Club members to attend their Super League matches at AFC Wimbledon this year with a record number of Community Club members attending. The Broncos enabling two Community Clubs to play an U14s match in the AFC Wimbledon Stadium as a curtain raiser to their win against Hull FC and a hundred Primary Rugby League players from Community Clubs played in a festival at the stadium ahead of the match against Hull KR. A high number of Community Club players have attended the London Broncos Lions Development Days for U12s to U15s and the London Broncos Origin Trials at U16s and U18s. The Community Game will also continue to have significant involvement in the Foundation, as the Community Club Awards and Grants to Community Clubs will continue to be determined by a panel comprising the Foundation, the RFL and the London Junior League, and the Foundation will continue to provide grants to Community Clubs across the region. The RFL will also continue to have significant influence, as it will appoint two Trustees to the Board of the Foundation. Richard Jones, who will continue as Chair of the Foundation, having been re-appointed as a Trustee by the RFL, said, "I am really excited that the London Broncos will become the sole Member of the London Rugby League Foundation. This will make the collaboration between the Broncos, the Community Clubs and the RFL far better, help the Foundation give the Community Clubs more support, and help to grow the game even more across London and the South-East." Aaqil Ahmed will also continue as a Trustee of the Foundation, having been re-appointed by the RFL. The London Broncos have appointed Jason Loubser and John Keyes as its Trustees. London Broncos Chief Executive Jason Loubser said; “This is an exciting announcement as it will help us to continue to grow the sport of Rugby League here in London. We will continue to combine the work that we do as a club with the great work that both the foundation and the junior leagues have been doing.” The RFL’s Southern Regions Development Manager Stephen Guan says: ‘’On the eve of Challenge Cup Finals Day, where all Rugby League eyes fall on London, this is a positive announcement for the game in the capital. This collaborative partnership will provide clarity about the Foundation situation across the region and between the two organisations. It will also provide the London Rugby League Foundation with extra support allowing for a stronger impact and further programme delivery opportunities across the sport, which the RFL will continue to support ’’
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