Featherstone Rovers claimed the Kingstone Press Championship Shield in comprehensive style on Sunday as they saw off London Broncos 36-4 at Widnes’ Select Security Stadium.
The Shield, the third Super 8 tier below the Qualifiers in the new league structure for clubs finishing the regular Championship season between fifth and 12th place, ended in a one-sided fashion as Matt James scored two tries for Rovers, while Paul Sykes added one of his own to his six goals.
Featherstone opened the scoring in the 10th minute when James powered over and Ben Blackmore did likewise six minutes later.
Although London did their best to rally, it was then Sykes who went over as Rovers built a 16-0 lead by half-time. The Broncos briefly had some hope when Rhys Williams pulled a try back in the 47th minute but Sykes responded with a penalty seven minutes later.
James’s second try soon followed, before Ian Hardman contributed one of his own. Then, almost immediately, Gareth Moore added the final try of the afternoon, bursting through having collected a loose ball.
Beforehand, in curtain-raisers at the same venue, Swinton Lions won promotion to the Championship with a thrilling League 1 play-off final against Keighley Cougars.
Swinton scored five first-half tries and led 26-16 at the break before a second-half Keighley comeback, led by tries from Oliver Pursglove and the player-coach, Paul March, threatened to derail their early hard work. But they held on for a 29-28 victory, with a 63rd-minute drop goal from Chris Atkin proving the difference between the sides. The scrum-half also added a try and four goals in a match-winning performance.
In the first match of the finals day in Widnes the National Conference League winners, Leigh Miners Rangers, won the Conference Challenge Trophy in beating Wath Brow Hornets 32-22.
