Featherstone Rovers: Better ground will work in Rovers' favour predicts coach Sharp

Rovers got off the mark in the Kingstone Press Championship with a hard-fought 14-12 home victory over Batley Bulldogs two days ago.

That came a week after an encouraging performance in defeat at Bradford Bulls.

Sharp said: “It was a battle of attrition. Both teams played really well, slogged it out and really gave everything for 80 minutes. Batley were great and we had to defend really well. Attacking-wise, we were not as good as we would have liked.

“But pitch conditions are working against that type of play at the moment. As the fields improve and harden up, we will get better.”

The Rovers boss added: “We have got some speed in the team. But at the moment we are wading through mud.

“We can’t generate any speed in the ruck area.”

Despite the conditions, Rovers came through the game with no new injuries.

They could be victims of injuries elsewhere, however, with Ash Handley likely to be recalled from his spell on dual-registration if his Leeds Rhinos club-mate and winger, Tom Briscoe, fails to recover from ankle damage.

Handley has played in both Rovers’ games so far and of his performance against Batley, Sharp said: “He took his try well and carried the ball strongly.”