Battling Panthers hint at better times ahead

Blackpool Panthers 16 Featherstone Rovers 23

On this evidence, Blackpool Panthers are edging ever closer to a win that has evaded them for so long, but it was still Featherstone Rovers who left the Woodlands Memorial Ground with a place in the fourth round draw after a battling 23-16 success on Saturday. The National League one club were always just in front against their National League Two counterparts.

But that didn’t tell the whole story, as Martin Crompton’s men scrapped their way back into the running with a bustling second half display. With a more lenient penalty count (6-16 to the visitors) and chances taken the result could have been quite the reverse.2I thought we were strong and worked hard as a team today,” said Panthers coach Crompton. “It’s all about applying themselves – and I was delighted that it was my kind of team performance” “I know David (Hobbs, the Featherstone coach) quite well, and I reckon Featherstone will remember this game for some time”

The visitors went ahead as early as the third minute thanks to a converted try from half back Andy Kain. Stuart Dickens added the extras. And when 26 year old former Wakefield winger Wayne Price made it 10-0 after 28 minutes, it should have been game over, but this is a different Panthers outfit, and it wasn’t. Mainly thanks to the hosts matching their opponents in terms of attacking possession, while Featherstone were giving them enough to go on with a number of handling errors at either end of the park.

Blackpool finally got points on the board eight minutes into the second half when Sean Hesketh fumbled on the Panthers line, presenting Casey Mayberry with the opportunity to run the length of the field. Mayberry was never going to be caught – and Johnny Leather added the extras from under the posts to make it 10-6. But Rovers hit back almost immediately with the sucker punch when full back Tommy Saxton went over four minutes later to make it 14-6.

On 57 minutes David Kirby effectively scooped up a pass on the half volley and went over in the right corner for 14-10.

If Saxton’s try hadn’t been the killer blow, then a trio of scores for the visitors certainly did. Dickens kicked a 62nd minute penalty, Paul Handforth sent over a drop goal and centre Wayne McHugh added a converted try to make the score 23-10 with six minutes to go. But, “never say die” Panthers weren’t to be outdone and Eddie Kilgannon scored a late try, converted by Leather, to make the score 16 -23.

On the Panthers losing streak, Crompton said, “It does still loom over us. But we are working hard to make sure it doesn’t continue for much longer – and it won’t. This run will end sooner rather than later. As one supporter was heard to say at the end “that was the best Panthers performance for over three years”

Attendance:- 302
Man of the Match:- Casey Mayberry (Blackpool Panthers)