Once upon a time, a club from a ‘small town’ from West Yorkshire came ever so close to achieving the impossible!
The fairy tale was well and truly alive but sadly they fell just short when it mattered most.
Featherstone Rovers initially finished 5th, scraping into the Play-offs and entered as unlikely outsiders.
But what followed were three sensational victories, both on the road and crossing the channel but journeying across to a different continent seemed a bridge too far.
Still, a superb achievement from a part-time club who sent a clear message out with their intentions to keep their dream of a place in the Betfred Super League well and truly alive!
Maybe 2020 might be their year as we look back at how 2019 panned out for the ‘flat cappers’!
Best Result: Toulouse Olympique 12-36 Featherstone Rovers
They achieved many remarkable results but their heavy win in Toulouse Olympique really does take some ousting!
Man of the Match Dane Chisholm starred with a full length of the field try and four goals, not to mention his sheer skill that enabled him to assist in further scores.
Adding to his points were a try double from John Davies as well as touchdowns from Ashton Golding, James Harrison, Jack Johnson and Jack Render.
All Toulouse could do was respond through William Barthau and Paul Marcon but the hosts were well and truly beaten.
It was a result that not only stunned the rugby league world as well as the hosts but also one that demonstrated why no opposition in rugby league, at any point, should be underestimated!
Worst Result: Featherstone Rovers 16-38 Barrow Raiders
Much earlier on in the season was one to forget in their home drubbing against Barrow Raiders.
A surprising outcome considering earlier in the season, Rovers travelled up to Cumbria and defeated the Raiders but it was Barrow’s time for some revenge.
Luke Cresswell bagged a second half hat-trick of tries, following two scores from Stargroth Amean and one each from James Dallimore and Danny Morrow.
All Featherstone could do was respond through tries from Dane Chisholm and a brace from Alex Sutcliffe, leaving the hosts well and truly beaten.
An off-day maybe but one that certainly gave them a good kick up the backside as what followed were a string of results that ultimately saw them attain that crucial play-off spot.
Main Man: Dane Chisholm
No doubt about it, the exciting Dane Chisholm was Featherstone’s star player of 2019.
Some may disagree but since arriving from Bradford Bulls after disagreements with the latter, Chisholm slotted in superb with the cappers.
Having scored over ten tries and slotting over 60 goals, his ease into the team was clearly evident.
His skill with ball in hand, speed and kicking game introduced new attacking dimensions into the club, helping them overcome tricky periods in their transition and keeping them a highly competitive team to play against.
Predicted 6th – Finished 5th
Initially displaying what was expected but soon followed was rugby that really shocked everyone.
Featherstone have always been a challenging club to go up against and 2019 was no different.
Some tipped them for a year of struggle after their failure to feature in the Super 8s Qualifiers in 2018, despite being highly fancied.
With a much changed squad, the transitional period could have struck the club but to overcome that and go within less than 80 minutes of a place in the Betfred Super League was a real eye-opener.
This certainly sets up a mouth-watering season for them and possibly a worrying one for their rivals in 2020 in what should be the most competitive Betfred Championship to date!
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