Featherstone Rovers hit with another major blow as star is helped from the field

Featherstone may be ploughing ahead to victory against Newcastle Thunder at the moment but their promotion hopes may have taken another seismic hit.

The Rovers are currently leading 36-12 against the Thunder after tries from Jack Bussey, two from Jack Broadbent, Joey Leilua, Connor Jones and Mark Kheirallah alongside three goals from the French fullback gave the West Yorkshire side a 30 point advantage before Newcastle conjured up back-to-back tries late in the first half.

The timing of their try comes as no surprise with it immediately following a major injury concern for the Rovers with the chief architect of Newcastle’s pain being helped from the field in the shape of Kheirallah who already had 10 points to his name before the incident.

The fullback took a big hit and was subsequently helped from the field with the Rovers’ twitter page sending their best wishes to the man who joined them midseason as a major signing.

It’s the last thing Featherstone needed with his fellow former Toulouse star Johnathon Ford being forced to pull out of the game due to a groin injury.

After defeats to Leigh and Batley recently have seen them slip well behind the Centurions in the table exacerbating their cup final loss to them, it’s just woe after woe for Brian McDermott’s men.

That said, Featherstone’s own try before halftime – from Junior Moors – demonstrated that the Rovers still have threat without Kheirallah and have options at one in Jack Broadbent, Craig Hall and Brandon Pickersgill who recently returned to Bradford on loan.

Hall has already replaced Kheirallah in one respect kicking the conversion to make it 36-12 at the break.