Stanley started the new season with a bit of competition against the Lions who beat us by 2 points last time out at Stanley. The Stanley boys started very briskly with a very good defensive line and an urgent and enthusiastic approach to the game.

The first score was a sweeping move to the right that saw Jordan O'Niell link into the line out wide off Matty Hobson and beat two defenders to score the first of his two for the day. The conversion was just wide from out wide on the right side. Stanley the from the kick off looked determined and direct, with powerful runs from Mark Cocker and Big Tommy Gant, supported by Jordan O'Niell and Harry Hirst who was on fire. The side swept up the field with probing runs from Tom Sowerby, Matty Hobson and Jordan O'Niell, that left the Featherstone defence in disarray enabling Harry Hirst to come onto a short ball to blast over from 10 yards out. The conversion was missed but again very close.

The next try was awarded the Magic Moment with Jordan O'Niell coming onto a ball at pace and breaking through the Featherstone defence and in the process being half tackled, getting back up, and running a further 20 yards to score. Superb! The next try was again a team effort with a quick pass from dummy half Charley Holland to Matty Hobson to Corey Eaton to Tom Sowerby and finally to Ryan Strafford who powered over to score in the corner.

The half time whistle was close but efforts from Mark Cocker who ran 40 yards on 2 occasions took us right into the other half and put us on the front foot. The score at this time was not a true reflection of our dominance, as we blew 3 clear try scoring chances with players not tipping on, and going for broke.

The start of the second half and 16 to 6 up, we were going down hill, and full of confidence. The team kicked deep and forced Featherstone to battle for every inch, and they kicked on the last with Tom Sowerby regathering the kick 60 yards out returned the ball with ease, and stepped two defenders and beat another two to score a great solo try.The conversion was missed. Stanley with wave after wave of attack looked dangerous, with Nick Fowler taking the middle ground with force, and driving us forward. Nick and Corry controlled the play and put us well into top gear.

The next try after a great run by Corry Eaton who drew in two defender to him, tipped onto big Harry Hirst who blasted around the outside backs to score under the post, and the conversion was landed. Lewis Fletcher as always was very dominant in both defence and potent in attack, and was in receipt of far more ball second half, and caused some real trouble, with one long range effort to just be tipped out at the line.

The last Stanley try was a set move from the halfway line, with Opposition Man of the Match Correy Eaton chipping over the tired defence with pin point perfection for Thomas Sowerby to beat the fullback and winger to collect the ball and run 40 yards to score his second try.

Harry Hirst and Nick Fowler were awarded joint Man of the Match awards.

The boys are at home again next week with a visit from West Bowling who we lost to last time out in the BARLA Cup.