Round 4: Hull KR 31-18 Wildcats
engage Super League XIV- Round 4
Hull KR 31-18 Wakefield Wildcats
Craven Park
Attendance: 9,038
Injury ravaged Wakefield suffered their second defeat of Super League XIV as Hull KR ran in five tries at a bitterly cold Craven Park.
Shaun Briscoe, Clint Newton, Scott Murrell, Ben Fisher and Liam Colbon scored the Rovers tries whilst Kevin Henderson, Dale Ferguson and Sean Gleeson got the consolation four-pointers for the visitors.
Wakefield’s preparations were hampered by the late withdrawal of centre Ryan Atkins, who had felt unwell the night before the game and was not well enough to play after taking part in the warm-up.
Kevin Henderson was promoted from the bench to fill the gap left by Atkins, whilst part-timer James Davey came into the 17 man squad.
To make matters even worse for the visitors, in the first set of the game the influential Brad Drew was flattened by Murrell, leaving him nursing a shoulder injury which forced him off the field.
This blow seemed to knock the Wildcats for six, and the early exchanges were dominated by the Robins. But the Wakefield defence stood firm until the 18th minute. Briscoe made the break and then eluded the tackle of opposite number Matt Blaymire to get the first points on the board.
The host’s were nearly in again moments later when Nick Fozzard and Briscoe combined well to set Murrell through, but Damien Blanch came up with a try saving tackle and turned the ball over.
Wakefield were gradually stemming the tide of Rover’s attacks and forced a goal line drop out after Jason Demetriou and Dale Ferguson got them within touching distance of the line with some strong running.
But it was the home side who struck again on the half-hour mark, when Tony Martin’s slip in the defensive line created a hole for Newton to burst through, and he took full advantage to score the second Hull KR try.
Justin Morgan’s men were turning the screw, and at times Wakefield were their own worst enemies. A loose pass gifted the ball to Rovers, and Peter Fox looked destined to score until Blanch once again saved the day.
But from the same attack the ball was worked right and after a grubber kick confused two Wakefield defenders, Murrell was on hand to touchdown for the simplest of tries.
The Wildcats struck back with two minutes to go before half – time when Martin, the player with the most try assists in Super League before today’s game, looped a pass to Henderson who strolled over to score. Martin was successful with his conversion, as Michael Dobson had been with his three to send the sides in at half-time with the host’s 18-6 to the good.
John Kear’s words at half-time had the necessary effect and the men in blue had the better of the opening ten minutes of the second period. And after Ricky Bibey’s high bomb baffled the Rover’s defence and forced a knock-on, Steve Snitch was then held up over the line.
Rovers punished Wakefield for not making the most of being in the ascendency, when on 52 minutes and following a Demetriou knock-on, Hull worked the ball to within 15 metres of the try line and Ben Fisher ran from dummy half unchallenged to score.
This clearly knocked the wind out of the Wildcats sails, and just five minutes later Colbon was touching down in the corner after holding the injured Dave Halley at arm’s length.
At 30-6 down it looked like a long final 20 minutes for the visiting fans, but Wakefield are made of sterner stuff these days, and hit back with tries of their own.
Firstly, the returning Danny Sculthorpe passed to Ferguson who charged over for his third try in two games. Then Sean Gleeson showed great footwork and balance to go over on the right hand side. Martin converted both and there was the smallest glimmer of a comeback similar to last season’s encounter at Craven Park.
But the clock was against Wakefield, and when Rovers got within sight of the line just three minutes from time, Dobson slotted over a drop goal to condemn the Belle Vue outfit to their second defeat of the season.
Teams
Wildcats: 1. Matt Blaymire, 2. Damien Blanch, 19. Sean Gleeson, 17. Kevin Henderson, 22. Dave Halley, 3. Tony Martin, 8. Jason Demtriou, 12. Oliver Wilkes, 9. Brad Drew, 16. Ricky Bibey, 11. Steve Snitch, 29. Jay Pitts, 24. Dale Ferguson. Replacements: 28. Kyle Bibb, 31. Luke Blake, 10. Danny Sculthorpe, 32. Luke Davey
Hull KR: 1. Shaun Briscoe, 2. Peter Fox, 19. Kris Welham, 4. Jake Webster, 5. Liam Colbon, 21. Chaz I'anson, 7. Michael Dobson, 8. Nick Fozzard, 15, Daniel Fitzhenry, 11. Clint Newton, 3. Chev Walker, 12. Ben Galea, 13. Scott Murrell. Replacements: 9. Ben Fisher, 17. Makali Aizue, 16. Jason Netherton, 24. Rhys Lovegrove
Referee: T. Alibert
Scorers
Hull KR: Tries: Brisoe, Newton, Murrell, Fisher, Colbon
Goals: Dobson (5)
Drop goals: Dobson
Wildcats: Tries: Henderson, Ferguson, Gleeson
Goals: Martin (3)
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