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to ensure Willie Peters’ males a house play-off semi-final in a fortnight’s time as they appear to seal their place at Outdated Trafford for the primary time.
The Robins, badly lacking their suspended captain Elliot Minchella, had huffed and puffed via 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 not less than two different outcomes, however a collection of dealing with errors meant they did not maintain their very own a part of the cut price, 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 levels and their uncertainty was punished by Rhyse Martin, who has already confirmed he will probably be shifting to Sewell Group Craven Park subsequent season.
The Papua New Guinea second-row jinked over off a wonderful brief move 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 did not kick on and, regardless of one other half-chance for Opacic, it was Leeds who regained the lead via 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 neglect three minutes from the break when he dropped a excessive kick from Lewis and let within the lurking Peta Hiku to slap down the free ball and make it 10-10 on the break.
Hull KR got here out firing initially of the second half and it took them eight minutes to revive their lead after 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 house facet had been wanting rather more purposeful and after Corridor, who will probably 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 offered Lewis with the only of alternatives to belatedly discover his kicking boots.
When one other error within the guests’ defence served up Burgess to surge over in the precise 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 massive 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 3 times 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 outdoors 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 move 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 in opposition to 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 facet 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’ overlaying defence after choosing up a free move 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 sort out denied Broncos a comfort strive via 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 did not convert.
Nicholson barged in for his second attempt to Ashton’s inside move despatched Currie darting over to finish the scoring.
What’s subsequent?
Hull KR have per week off earlier than internet hosting the highest-ranked facet 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 outdated 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. E-book Joshua vs Dubois now!
