Hull FC went down 44-0 to an experienced Featherstone Rovers side in their opening fixture of the 2025 Women’s Championship season on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts ran in nine tries at the Millennium Stadium and dominated the contest throughout, running away with the scoreline in the second-half.
Team News
Pete Grayburn named his first team as head coach of the Black and Whites, with Jade Key and Nat Romano co-captaining the team.
Parkin, Sutton, Williamson and Waller all lined up alongside Romano in the front row.
Alyx Worth started on the wing with Lily Bunby, with Lyon, Smith and Cowling completing the back row.
Abby Price and Olivia Turner lined up in the halves.
The Match
FC completed their first set well, winning a repeat set. Waller had a look at the line but couldn’t find a route over. Rovers quickly responded with a chance of their own, but Craven knocked on as it began to look menacing.
Featherstone had another good chance on the ten-minute mark and Billington looked to be in for the first points, but was ruled out for an obstruction call. A knock on on their next set gave Hull the best opportunity so far, but an error kept the game scoreless after an end to end few minutes.
It was the home side who opened the scoring on the twenty-minute mark. A bulldozing run from Brogan Churm saw her score under the posts. Waters converted the try. The Rovers went back to back, with Churm finishing off a well-worked move. Waters couldn’t convert the try.
The home side had another chance after half an hour. Grace Firth got over in the corner but was ruled out for a forward pass.
A sin-bin for the home side, followed by an error, then saw FC in great field position, but an intercept from Billington quickly put Featherstone back on the attack. A short pass was taken in by Waters, who charged back inside for a try with just over five minutes to go. Firth missed the conversion.
FC finished the half with ball in hand. An early kick in the set was dangerous but Prescott was just quickest to the loose ball.
Half-Time: Featherstone Rovers Women 14-0 Hull FC Women
Hull had a good first set, with a good kick chase limiting Featherstone’s metres returning the ball. FC had to turn attack into defence quickly in the early stages though, but they transitioned brilliantly to keep Rovers out. A forward pass then denied the Rovers best chance a few minutes later.
Romano was sin-binned on the 50th minute and the home side made the extra player count. Charley Blackburn burrowed over from close range, just to the left of the posts. Firth knocked over the conversion.
A brilliant run from Sutton got Hull into good field position before Featherstone knocked on, giving Hull a full set on their line. An interception from Rovers saw them get out of trouble. Billington was then sent through a gap, and Prescott finished off the break under the posts. Firth converted the try. Billington looked to have then scored on the next set, but good pressure forced a forward pass and Rovers were denied.
Hull had an opportunity of their own off the back of a penalty. Waller launched a teasing kick, and Bentley just beat Romano to the ball.
Featherstone scored their next try with fifteen minutes to go. Howarth broke from halfway and scored under the uprights. Firth successfully converted the try. Harrison got over from close range on the next set. Firth dragged the conversion wide.
Craven scored in the corner with just under ten minutes to go. The conversion was wide.
A Featherstone error from kick off gave the Black and Whites a late opportunity but FC couldn’t find a route to the line. The last act of the game saw Shavon Craven just win the high ball and dive over. The conversion was wide.
Full Time: Featherstone Rovers Women 44-0 Hull FC Women
Squads & Scorers:
Featherstone Rovers: Angel Bentley, Ash Prescott, Chloe Billington, Grace Firth, Shavon Craven, Dani Waters, Liv Grace, Gabby Harrison, Charley Blackburn, Kirsty Duffield, Katie Evans, Kacey Davies, Emillie Holmes.
Interchanges: Alyssa Courtney, Brogan Churm, Hannah Watt, Liv Howarth.
18th Player: Lydia Fawkes.
Featherstone Tries: Churm (20, 23), Waters (33), Blackburn (50), Prescott (58), Howarth (65), Harrison (68), Craven (72, 78)
Featherstone Goals: Waters (21), Firth (51, 59, 66)
Hull FC: Poppy Lyon, Alyx Worth, Georgia Smith, Rebecca Cowling, Lily Bunby, Abby Price, Olivia Turner, Abby Parkin, Jade Key, Nat Romano, Charlotte Sutton, Grace Williamson, Kayleigh Waller.
Interchanges: Holly Cole, Davinia Richardson, Kacey Sexton, Abby Turner.
18th Player: Abbie Wardell.
Hull Tries: –
Hull Goals: –
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