An eighteen point win for London Broncos would lift them into second place in the Kingstone Press Championship, and more importantly above todays rivals Featherstone Rovers. The bookies fancied Rovers for the win but Andrew Henderson knew it was crucial for his side to to get the victory in the all-important race for the middle eights.

Both sides brought great winning runs into the game, something would have to give in what was probably one of the most crucial games of the whole weekend.

He game was just six minutes old when Jarrod Sammut got on the end of a William Barthau grubber to ground behind the sticks. Kieran Dixon kicked a simple conversion for a great start for the Broncos.

On ten minutes Narthau was again the provider with a perfectly waited kick which was collected and grounded by Alex Walker after he rebounded off the post padding. Dixon slotted over the extras two and Featherstone were stunned.

On twenty-five and other Barthau grubber forced a Fev’ drop out and three tackles in a high tackle from Richard Moore on James Cunningham gifted the Broncos another two points through the boot of Dixon.

Rovers failed to find a way through the Broncos defence who took their deserved 14-0 lead into the interval.

Rovers finally found their way over the whitewash on forty-four when Jon Davies went from acting half-back to twist over the line and fall to the ground. Cory Aston added the extra two points to get his side back within eight of the Broncos.

On forty-eight Andy Ackers somehow managed to get the ball onto the ground over the Featherstone line despite four defenders trying to hold him up. Dixon failed to add the extras so the London lead was twelve points with thirty minutes left on the clock.

Within sixty seconds Alex Walker went in for his second of the afternoon when he jumped to collect a Barthau win and step past the defender to ground. Dixon again failed to add the extras, squandering important points.

On fifity-six Ian Hardman was sin-binned for a slap on Elliot Kear and Kear joined him for his reaction. Dixon kicked the resulting penalty and the lead was up to eighteen points, the margin they needed to go above Rovers in the league table.

On the hour Luke Briscoe dropped the ball on his own twenty trying to spin out of a tackle. London picked up the loose ball and Michael Channing took a Walker pass to walk in for a simple try. Dixon slotted the touchline conversion between the uprights for 30-6.

On sixty-three there was some joy for Featherstone when Scott Turner took a Luke Briscoe pass to score spectacularly in the corner. Aston failed to add the extra two from out wide. Two minutes later and following a dreadful London kick-off, John Davies stretched out an arm to score a fingertip try. Aston was accurate with the conversion this time for 30-16 with fourteen minutes left on the clock.

The win was sealed on seventy-two when Barthau picked up a dropped Cory Aston ball on his own twenty and went eighty metres to outpace the Fev’ defence to score. Dixon added the extas for 36-16.

Dixon picked up the last four pointer of the afternoon when he picked up a high kick, used Channing in support, before receiving the ball back to go in. He added the conversion for 42-16 and a terrific win over a side who should have put up more robust opposition.

London are now up to second in the table, level on points with Featherstone, and they have done their prospects of a top four finish a world of good. Featherstone had their moments but were dominated for most of the game, the boot of Barthau causing them massive problems. London really wanted this and it could be the springboard for them to launch their challenge to return to Super League.

Broncos: Walker (2T), Williams, Kear (SB), Channing (T), Dixon (T, 7G), Sammut (T), Barthau (T), Evans, Cunningham, Ioane, Harrison, Pitts, Offerdahl. Subs: Ackers (T), Garside, Roqica, Bienek.

Rovers: Hardman (SB), Briscoe, Tualapapa, Walton, Turner (T), Thackeray, Aston (2G), Cooper, Carlile, Moore, Mariano, Davies (2T), Lockwood. Subs: Tagg, Griffin, Wildie, Ormondroyd.

Referee: Gareth Hewer.

Half-Time: 14-0.

Full-Time: 42-16.

Attendance:.