Wolfpack suffer 1st-ever home loss at hands of Featherstone Rovers

Featherstone Rovers defeated the Wolfpack 30-12 of their regular-season finale Saturday, handing Toronto its first-ever home loss and snapping its 18-match profitable streak in Betfred Championship rugby league play. Toronto’s solely different league defeat this season was a 47-16 setback at London Broncos on Feb. 25. Paul Rowley’s group will now flip its consideration to the post-season and its push for promotion to the elite Tremendous League within the so-called Tremendous Qualifiers. The Lamport Stadium loss will sting, nevertheless. “Defend the Den” has been one of the Wolfpack’s slogans for the reason that transatlantic rugby group started play in 2017. Toronto (20-2-1) got here into the sport having already clinched the second-tier Betfred Championship title. Featherstone, which got here into the sport in fifth place, wanted a win — and a few assist from different outcomes Sunday — to maintain its playoff hopes alive. Clock administration is essential Featherstone (16-7-0) did its half, pressuring the Wolfpack offence with some massive hits and discovering holes within the home defence. The extra energetic facet, it additionally managed the clock properly. The guests led by 10 factors at the half and didn’t crack in closing 40 minutes earlier than a season-high introduced crowd of 8,217. Keal Carlile, Jason Walton, Josh Hardcastle and Matty Wildie scored tries for Featherstone. Ian Hardman kicked 4 conversions and three penalties. Ashton Sims and Adam Sidlow scored tries for Toronto. Ryan Brierley kicked two conversions. The sport noticed the season debut of Toronto ahead Quinn Ngawati, a 19-year-old from Victoria who grew to become the primary Canadian to play professional rugby league when he made two look final season within the third-tier League 1. Trailing 16-6 at the half, Toronto closed the hole to 4 factors on Sidlow’s transformed attempt 4 minutes into the second half. However Featherstone answered within the 49th minute through Hardcastle’s transformed attempt for a 22-12 lead. A Hardman penalty upped the result in 24-12 and Wildie’s 69th-minute transformed attempt made it 30-12. Playoffs up subsequent The Tremendous Eight Qualifiers characteristic the underside 4 groups within the elite Tremendous League and the highest 4 within the Betfred Championship. They play one another as soon as, with the highest three assured of a spot within the Tremendous League and the fourth- and fifth-place groups going through off to see who joins them in what has develop into referred to as the Million Pound Sport. The Tremendous League contributors will probably be Leeds Rhinos, Hull Kingston Rovers, Salford Crimson Devils and Widnes Vikings. Fellow Betfred Championship facet Toulouse Olympique (16-6-1) locked up its berth within the Qualifiers with a 44-18 win Dewsbury earlier Saturday. London Broncos and Halifax can assure their Qualifiers place with wins Sunday. London is at Barrow Raiders whereas Halifax entertains bottom-of-the-table Rochdale Hornets. Toronto is aware of it can play 4 video games at home and three away within the Qualifiers. The Wolfpack will host Hull KR and Widnes and journey to Leeds and Salford. The total schedule is due out Wednesday. https://www.cbc.ca/sports/rugby/toronto-wolfpack-featherstone-rovers-recap-1.4765806?cmp=rss