Toulouse beats Rovers in the second half

This wasn’t pretty but Toulouse Olympique toughed this one out and added steel when under pressure from a Rovers outfit feeling they deserved more from their French trip as the heavy conditions looked to favour the men from West Yorkshire.

TO XIII coach Sylvain Houles summed it up when he said « this is the kind of game we would have lost in previous years ». This was a tense affair but the best team just about won this cliffhanger. Toulouse dominated the opening quarter forcing five goal line dropouts which Fev dealt but Rovers attacks were rare. On 22 minutes Brenden Santi gifted possession with a knock on in his 25 after a crunching Luke Cooper tackle but Featherstone couldn’t take advantage as they too knocked on close to the try line. However, despite being under the cosh it was the visitors who opened the scoring three minutes later after Ben Reynolds kicked a penalty about thirty metres out. The game evened out with half chances for both sides but the slippery ball caused problems for both sides and Fev managed to get to the break with that precious two point advantage.

Toulouse started the second period he more confident and immediately put their opponents under pressure and a short inside pass five metres out two minutes in from Jonno Ford found the strong running Tyla Hepi who crashed over at the foot of the left post. Mark Kheirallah made the easy two-pointer.
The game remained tight but neither side could get the upper hand. Toulouse resisted the Rover’s attacks with strong-arm tactics and received a final warning from ref Greg Dolan. Featherstone conceded a penalty 25 metres out and Kheirallah was instructed to kick for the two points. This extended the lead to six points with still a quarter of the game remaining. They held out and had chances of their own to settle the result but basic errors cost both sides. Featherstone still had cahnces to level the scores up to the last seconds but the hosts held out and gained the two precious league points.

Toulouse : Mark Kheirallah, Tony Maurel, Bastien Ader, Mathieu Jussaume, Paul Marcon, Jonno Ford, William Barthau, Brenden Santi, Clément Boyer, Con Mika, Rhys Curran, Anthony Marion.

Subs : James Bell, Max Puech, Tyla Hepi, Jordan Dezaria.

Tries: Hepi (43)

Goals: Kheirallah (2/2)

Rovers : Ash Golding, Luke Briscoe, Josh Hardcastle, Josh Walters, Luke Newman, Jorge Richardson, Ben Reynolds, Makahesi Makatoa, Cameron King, Jack Ormondroyd, John Davies, Brad Day, James Lockwood.

Subs : Luke Cooper, Scott Wheeldon, James Harrison, Jack Render.

Goals: Reynolds (1/1)

Half-Time : 0 – 2
Penalties : 6 – 10
Attendance : 2251
MOM : Johno Ford
Referee : Greg Dolan 65/100
Weather : Overcast and heavy

Dave Andrews