Leeds Rhinos narrowly edged out Betfred Championship outfit Featherstone Rovers 22-30 at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday afternoon as pre-season preparations continued for a number of clubs.
The Rhinos took a 6-18 lead into the break thanks to efforts from Tom Briscoe, Harry Newman and Liam Tindall while Jack Bussey notched Featherstone’s only try of the first half.
Sam Walters would go over for Leeds after the interval before Craig Hall hit back for the hosts. Alex Mellor would score the visitors final try of the game on the hour-mark before Featherstone mounted a comeback with quickfire efforts from Junior Moors and Gareth Gale. However, it was the Betfred Super League side who came away with the victory.
Castleford Tigers were 10-32 victors against York City Knights at the LNER Community Stadium.
A rampant first gave the Tigers a comfortable 0-26 lead at half-time with Junior Vasuitoga, Jake Mamo and Alex Sutcliffe scoring alongside a brace from new arrival Bureta Faraimo.
York outscored Castleford in the second half with Will Oakes and Matthew Marsh finding the try-line. The Tigers would finish the scoring through youngster Ryan Morley who collected the ball 20 metres from his own line and raced away.
Bradford Bulls recorded their first victory of pre-season over Hull FC, 42-18.
David Foggin-Johnston claimed a brace while Kieran Gill, Tom Doyle, Ben Evans, Elliot Kear and Coby Nichol were also on the scoresheet. Callum Rutland scored 14 of Hull FC’s points with Brad Fash also bagging a try.
Elsewhere, Wakefield Trinity ran out 24-52 winners against Halifax in Scott Grix’s Testimonial Fixture, Widnes Vikings overcame Batley Bulldogs 24-18 in Danny Craven’s Testimonial Fixture, Workington Town claimed the Ike Southward Memorial Trophy in a hard-fought 18-14 victory against fellow Cumbrians Whitehaven and Barrow Raiders defeated Newcastle Thunder 34-22.
On Saturday, Huddersfield Giants inflicted a 12-42 defeat on Dewsbury Rams in Michael Knowles’ Testimonial Fixture while Salford Red Devils beat Swinton Lions 48-12.
Pre-Season Results:
Saturday 15 January
Dewsbury Rams 12 Huddersfield Giants 42
Salford Red Devils 48 Swinton Lions 12
Sunday 16 January
Workington Town 18 Whitehaven 14
Barrow Raiders 34 Newcastle Thunder 22
Bradford Bulls 42 Hull FC 18
Featherstone Rovers 22 Leeds Rhinos 30
Halifax Panthers 24 Wakefield Trinity 52
Widnes Vikings 24 Batley Bulldogs 18
York City Knights 10 Castleford Tigers 32
