Featherstone Rovers stunned by Halifax Panthers, raising Super League question

Playing against the likes of Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves week in and week out is the pinnacle of rugby league in this country and for most of this season it has looked like the Featherstone Rovers are the ones headed for that almighty achievement whilst one of their local rivals in Castleford Tigers and Wakefield Trinity appear set for the drop.

However, the Rovers are beatable. They have lost in the league already this year and there is a reason they won’t be at Wembley next week in a third consecutive 1895 Cup Final and that is because of their Challenge Cup defeat to Halifax Panthers.

The Panthers have shown again that they can beat the league leaders casting doubt over whether this is the year that Fev will be promoted.

They trailed 18-16 at halftime but reclaimed the lead with a vital try from James Woodburn Hall as he showed a tremendous dummy that carved open the Rovers allowing him to slide his way through for what was his second try of the game.

Louis Jouffret converted and on the hour mark he would crucially give the home side a six point lead with a penalty.

As a famous win edged closer, Jouffret and Woodburn-Hall would be crucially involved again as the Frenchman laid it on a plate for Woodburn-Hall to nail a drop goal with six minutes left.

Headed to victory, the Panthers seemed set to keep the Rovers scoreless in the second 40 until Luke Briscoe scored to set up a grand stand finish.

Mark Kheirallah rushed the conversion and missed leaving it at 25-22 but the situation remained the same with a try needed for the win.

There was a huge chance when Joey Leilua burst through finding the fullback in support and he kicked ahead for Briscoe but usual try scorer Lachlan Walmsley turned try saver as he dived on the ball with a minute to go and that sealed a famous win.

It now raises the question, will Featherstone be the ones to get promoted this year or is it fate that arguably the best club side to never play in the Super League will continue to miss out.

Halifax will hope to ensure that the latter is true.