Hull KR shrugged off some early nerves to substantiate a second-place end on this season’s Betfred Tremendous League with a pressure-filled 26-16 win over Leeds at Craven Park.
Second-half tries from Tom Opacic, Sauaso Sue and Joe Burgess did sufficient to ensure Willie Peters’ males a house play-off semi-final in a fortnight’s time as they give the impression of being to seal their place at Previous Trafford for the primary time.
The Robins, badly lacking their suspended captain Elliot Minchella, had huffed and puffed by the primary interval and given Leeds, smarting from final week’s 38-0 loss at champions Wigan Warriors, slim hope of reserving their very own unbelievable play-off berth.
Brad Arthur’s males wanted to win and depend on a minimum of two different outcomes, however a sequence of dealing with errors meant they didn’t hold their very own a part of the discount, with the Rhinos lacking out on the post-season for the second straight 12 months.
Victory for Hull KR additionally ensured they pipped Warrington Wolves into second, regardless of this season’s Betfred Problem Cup runners-up easing previous London Broncos 54-0 on the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Robins overcome early nerves to clinch second
Hull KR, so medical in final week’s shutout win at Leigh, had been something however within the early phases and their uncertainty was punished by Rhyse Martin, who has already confirmed he shall be shifting to Sewell Group Craven Park subsequent season.
The Papua New Guinea second-row jinked over off a superb quick go from Brodie Croft, however he missed the possibility to increase the Rhinos’ result in six when he crashed his simple-looking conversion off the left-hand upright.
Martin got here shut once more earlier than the hosts lastly bought into gear, with ex-Leeds hooker Matt Parcell evading two tackles to cost in underneath the posts earlier than Mikey Lewis kicked the Robins in entrance to the evident reduction of the house supporters.
However Hull KR didn’t kick on and, regardless of one other half-chance for Opacic, it was Leeds who regained the lead by Alfie Edgell, who threw the dummy and caught the Rovers’ defence flat-footed to attain the guests’ second.
The in any other case glorious Edgell endured a second to overlook three minutes from the break when he dropped a excessive kick from Lewis and let within the lurking Peta Hiku to slap down the unfastened ball and make it 10-10 on the break.
Hull KR got here out firing at the beginning of the second half and it took them eight minutes to revive their lead once they took benefit of a repeat set on the Rhinos’ 10 to execute a intelligent transfer which despatched Opacic over earlier than Lewis horribly skewed his kick.
Hull KR’s Tom Opacic dives over for a strive within the win over Leeds
4 factors had been plainly not sufficient to erase the jitters, however the residence aspect had been trying rather more purposeful and after Corridor, who shall be making his return to the Rhinos subsequent 12 months, had a strive dominated out for obstruction, they initially managed to realize some clear air.
Leeds invited strain deep as Luis Roberts spilled a excessive ball and when Rovers had been handed a repeat set on the guests’ 10 they made it rely because the spectacular Sue barged over and introduced Lewis with the best of alternatives to belatedly discover his kicking boots.
When one other error within the guests’ defence served up Burgess to surge over in the suitable nook it successfully confirmed Hull KR’s win, whereas Andy Ackers crossing for a late comfort for Leeds earlier than the ultimate hooter introduced muted celebrations and the distinct sense of a job half completed.
Warrington romp to huge win over Broncos
Matty Ashton scored a hat-trick as Warrington maintained their glowing kind to brush apart London Broncos 54-0 of their closing recreation of Tremendous League’s common season.
Winger Ashton touched down thrice within the first half and though the Wolves went over for seven extra tries it was not sufficient to grab second spot from Hull KR.
Wolves, already assured of third place, had boosted their exterior hopes of ending second by thrashing Huddersfield Giants 66-0 final week, however will now face St Helens on the Halliwell Jones Stadium subsequent Saturday of their eliminator.
Second-row Matty Nicholson and centre Arron Lindop each touched down twice and there have been additionally tries for James Harrison, Josh Thewlis – the winger landed seven conversions – and Ben Currie.
Thewlis was denied an early strive when tackled into contact, however reverse wing Ashton raced on to George Williams’ looping go to go over within the nook for the opening strive within the tenth minute.
Matty Ashton led the way in which for Warrington with a hat-trick towards London
Ashton then stepped inside off his left wing for his second attempt to Wolves’ dominance was rewarded with a 3rd contact down when Nicholson powered over to place the house aspect 16-0 up within the twenty third minute.
Broncos had been pinned into their very own half and conceded two extra tries earlier than the interval to path 26-0 as Ashton outpaced the guests’ protecting defence after choosing up a unfastened go for his hat-trick and Lindop eluded a drained Broncos rearguard to zig-zag over for the Wolves’ fifth landing.
Thewlis’ offload despatched Lindop in for his second strive quickly after the restart earlier than Ashton’s robust deal with denied Broncos a comfort strive by wing Lee Kershaw.
James Harrison dragged a tackler with him as he crashed over underneath the posts for a transformed rating to place Wolves 38-0 forward and Thewlis powered over within the nook for his or her eighth strive, which he didn’t convert.
Nicholson barged in for his second attempt to Ashton’s inside go despatched Currie darting over to finish the scoring.
What’s subsequent?
Hull KR have per week off earlier than internet hosting the highest-ranked aspect remaining from the elimination play-offs within the semi-finals on both Friday October 4 or Saturday October 5.
Warrington Wolves now put together to face previous rivals St Helens within the elimination spherical on Saturday September 28 on the Halliwell Jones Stadium (5.30pm kick-off), with that match dwell on Sky Sports activities+.
Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight showdown with Daniel Dubois takes place on Saturday September 21 dwell on Sky Sports activities Field Workplace. Ebook Joshua vs Dubois now!
