MATCH REPORT: Featherstone Rovers 34-6 London Broncos
Jake Watson • 6 April 2025
MATCH REPORT: Featherstone Rovers 34-6 London Broncos
London Broncos bowed out of the 1895 Cup at the quarter finals stage after losing to Featherstone Rovers at Post Office Road.
Broncos won the toss and opted to go down the hill in the first half which was a tactic that served us well in the last visit back in 2023. It was by no means a slow start but it was the home side who registered the first points of the afternoon but it wasn’t without controversy as it looked like the officials had missed a forward pass. After play had been allowed to continue Wynne and Aekins combined for the latter to score. Reynolds kicked the extras. Rovers 6-0 Broncos.
That try sparked Mike Eccles side into action and in the 15th minute the Broncos moved the ball well out to the left hand side where Liam Tindall found himself in space - who likes nothing more than green grass to run into. The winger ran almost 50 metres and cut inside to evade Reynolds to score a fantastic try. The conversion from Hellec was almost as impressive as he slotted it through the posts from a tight angle.
In the 20th minute Lewis Bienek returned to the action after missing the win over Hunslet and with his first carry eyed up his opposite number and ran straight through him. Just before the half hour mark Bienek would once again cause destruction to the Rovers defence. From 30 metres out he powered through two tackles and looked like a fantastic opportunity to score but he was stopped by the full-back and knocked on in the contact.
Broncos would then pay the price for not taking that chance as in the 33rd minute Aekins would score again as he smartly stepped inside two tackles to put the home side back in front. Reynolds couldn't add the extras but it meant it was 10-6 at half-time.
Behind at the break and now going up the hill it was always going to be a tough task at this point to secure the win and progress into the semi-finals. That being said it was the Broncos who started the better with Tindall presented with the best opportunity after picking up a bouncing ball 15 metres out he went for the grubber but it was smothered on the tryline and the chance had gone.
In the 47th minute Featherstone threatened to score again but after a knock on the referee had long blown his whistle before the try and the premature celebrations had happened. This would however prove to be a let off as the next score would follow in the 50th minute with Wynne scoring with a diving finish in the far left-hand corner. The conversion was missed but Featherstone scoring the first points undoubtedly knocked the belief of a comeback. 14-6
On the hour mark Aekins would complete his hat-trick as he somehow managed to free an arm and reach for the line. Reynolds would convert and Rovers would be almost certain of progressing. 20-6
Just a few minutes later a high looping kick was contested by Hellec and Featherstone’s Hatton and it would be the Rovers player who would impressively gather the ball and score the next try. The kicker had now changed with Ryan Hampshire taking over duties but he would miss with his first attempt. 24-6.
Heading into the final 10 minutes the depth of Featherstone’s squad began to have a real impact. It’s a squad filled with outstanding Championship talent and when they click they are a formidable side for anyone to come up against. In the 71st minute Featherstone would score again but again it looked like a forward pass had been missed. Hampshire would again be unsuccessful but the score had moved to 28-6.
There would be one final score for Paul Cooke’s side and it came in the 76th minute as Connor Jones managed to slip the tackle from Polselli to run over the line and a free run under the posts to give Hampshire the simple task with the kick. Final score 34-6.
LONDON BRONCOS: Walker, Hellec, Ball, Small, Tindall, Polselli, Binks, Worthington, Davies, Stock, Lovell, Adebiyi, Stock
Interchanges: Ross, Bienek, Mason & Davis
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: YORK KNIGHTS VS LONDON BRONCOS Mike Eccles has named his squad for Sunday's trip to the Championship leaders York Knights. With a number of players currently managing injuries it is a squad of 18 players that has been named. Walker, Bienek picked up injuries in the last game with Toulouse whilst Tindall is unavailable due HIA protocols. Webster-Mansfield remains a couple of weeks away from a return although Polselli is back in training this weekend comes too soon for his return. Aaron Small has a bicep injury and remains unavailable. Kobe Rugless is straight into the squad after joining from Hunslet RLFC this week. Jack Smith has been recalled by Leeds Rhinos this week but Marcus Qareqare comes into the squad in his place. #WeAreLondon
QAREQARE JOINS ON DUAL-REGISTRATION London Broncos can confirm Leeds Rhinos youngster Marcus Qareqare has joined the club on dual-registration and is in the squad for the weekend's trip to York Knights. The England youth international is an outside back with pace to burn and will nice get his first taste of senior action with London Broncos. Marcus is highly regarded at Leeds Rhinos and is also the younger brother of Castleford winger Jason Qareqare. Jack Smith has been recalled by Leeds Rhinos this week. #WeAreLondon
INTERVIEW: Kobe Rugless first London Broncos interview An excited Kobe Rugless has said he can't wait to pull on a Broncos jersey for the first time after joining the club this week. The Australian has joined from Hunslet RLFC and follows in the footsteps of his Dad Troy Rugless who played for London Crusaders in 1994. Watch the full interview with Kobe below and keep scrolling for tickets to our remaining home league games.
KOBE RUGLESS JOINS LONDON BRONCOS London Broncos are delighted to announce that Kobe Rugless has joined the club from Hunslet RLFC. The 24-year-old half-back joins Mike Eccles side after impressing for the South Yorkshire side in the Championship this season.
GAMEWEEK: York Knights vs London Broncos It's an away trip to the league leaders this week for London Broncos as they go up north to take on York Knights at the LNR. Mark Applegarth's side lead the Championship by two points over this weekend's opponents Toulouse and also Bradford. The leaders have won 15 games on the bounce so provide a huge task for Mike Eccles side who are looking to get back to winning ways after a narrow defeat to Toulouse at the weekend. Tickets are available to buy for the game from HERE!!
HIGHLIGHTS: London Broncos vs Toulouse Olympique You can now watch back extended highlights of the 2025 Championship fixture between London Broncos and Toulouse Olympique at The Cherry Red Records Stadium. Keep scrolling to get tickets for our final two home league games.
LONDON BRONCOS V TOULOUSE OLYMPIQUE (by David Ballheimer) London Broncos (14) 18, Toulouse Olympique (6) 24 London Broncos suffered their most heart-breaking defeat of the season after outplaying Toulouse Olympique Treiziste for most of the first 65 minutes but succumbing to three tries in six final-quarter minutes. Mike Eccles’ 100th match in charge of the Broncos was made tougher by an injury crisis which saw three players gut it out despite having knocks that should have left them on the sideline. It meant a first-ever rugby league match for newly signed winger Charlie Robson. The Broncos took the lead in the seventh minute. Eschewing a kick on the last play, the ball was fed out to the left, with Alex Walker chiming into the line to create a numerical mismatch, and when Liam Tindall received the pass, he was quick enough to dive in the corner.
POST-MATCH: Mike Eccles post Toulouse defeat Get the thoughts of London Broncos head coach Mike Eccles following the narrow 18-24 defeat to Toulouse Olympique at The Cherry Red Records Stadium. Liam Tindall scored his 10th and 11th tries of the season and Jack Smith converted one and kicked 4 from 5 penalties. Watch the full interview with Mike below. #WeAreLondon
TEAM NEWS: London Broncos vs Toulouse Olympique Mike Eccles has named his starting line-up for this afternoon's game with Toulouse Olympique. Charlie Robson comes in to make his debut as Jack Smith moves into centre replacing Aaron Small. #WeAreLondon
MATCH PREVIEW: London Broncos vs Toulouse Olympique After the win over Barrow Raiders at the weekend, London Broncos are back at The Cherry Red Records again on Sunday as they welcome Toulouse Olympique to the capital. The two sides met back in June in a tightly contested game in Toulouse with the French side running out narrow winners. Take a look through this week’s Match Preview as we give you all the key information you need ahead of kick-off. SQUAD INFO Mike Eccles has named his 21-man squad for Sunday's fixture with Toulouse Olympique at The Cherry Red Records Stadium. Webster-Mansfield & Polselli remain unavailable through injury so returning to the 21 is Jensen Monk and Ted Davidson.
