East on fire

Life has not been easy for Featherstone since they gained promotion into the Premier Division of the Arriva Trains Conference League and it got no better against an East side whose sheer speed alone mesmerised their Yorkshire visitors.

Featherstone tried hard to keep the scoreline down and, because they never did stop trying, they were finally rewarded with a 65th minute try from stand off Chris Morgan who had earlier kicked a penalty in first half injury time.

But against powerful centres Woods and Hall, clever half backs Gunning and Kilshaw, hard working forwards Whiteside, Taylor and Southworth and the highly-motivated Warhurst, the Lions never had any hope of being anything but second best.

It took East quarter of an hour to break through the Featherstone defence but once they had, the floodgates opened.

Man of the Match Kilshaw was the first to score when he fooled the defence with a slick change of pace. Then Meadows set up the next try with a peach of a pass in his own half which ended with a flourish at the other end from Warhurst. Next Kilshaw and Gunning combined to send the ever-improving Woods in.

Woods converted twice with Featherstone's only reply Morgan's late penalty.

Gary Greenough made an impression immediately he came on as substitute and within five minutes had his name on the scoresheet, Woods including the goal points. Then Whiteside slipped the ball in the tackle and Philip Murphy, another of East's promising young players, did well to stay out of touch to send Marsden on a lightning dash for the line.

Liam Rowson raced 40 yards under the posts off Taylor's pass, Woods goaling, then Andrew Gregson, in outstanding form again, rounded off another good handling move for a try which Kilshaw converted. Morgan touched down for Featherstone but Darren Hall, back to his tantalising best this season, ducked and dived all ways, flat-footed the defence and scored the final try, Woods goaling.