Rugby League: Rovers overwhelm Workington

HULL KINGSTON Rovers, favourites for the newly named Northern Ford Premiership, made an ideal start to the season with a 21-14 win at revitalised Workington yesterday.

Hunslet were the only other team to win away from home on the opening day, while Featherstone Rovers, runners-up to the champions, Wakefield Trinity, in 1998, served notice of their intent with a 32-12 home win over Rochdale Hornets.

Workington, who finished next to bottom of the old Second Division last year, made Hull KR fight all the way under their new coach, Andy Platt. The Cumbrians' captain, Barry Williams, scored the game's first try and helped create second-half tries for Simon Knox and Mark Wallace, but touchdowns in each half from Hull KR's winger Jon Wray saw his side home.

Hunslet away win came at Swinton, where Mike Fletcher scored 13 of his side's points in a 21-10 triumph.

Winger Jamie Stokes scored twice to take his tally to five tries in two games as Featherstone easily overcame a disappointing Rochdale side. Micky Clarkson, Carl Hall, Martin Law and Steve Dooler were Featherstone's other try-scorers. Richard Chapman kicked four goals for the Hornets.

Widnes Vikings turned in an impressive show to send highly fancied Dewsbury sliding to a 30-12 defeat. The Cheshire side, fielding eight new signings, took control midway through the first half with tries from Lokeni Savelio and French international Fabien Devecchi. Jim Salisbury kicked seven goals.

The former Sheffield Eagles loose forward Martin Wood scored a brace of tries in Keighley's 42-16 win over Doncaster.