| Hull KR (14) 20 |
| Tries: Walker, Corridor, Luckley Targets: Schneider 4 |
| Leigh (2) 6 |
| Tries: Charnley Targets: Reynolds |
Hull KR exacted revenge for his or her Problem Cup closing loss to Leigh Leopards with a Tremendous League play-off eliminator victory at Craven Park.
Jack Walker and Ryan Corridor tries, plus three objectives from Brad Schneider ensured the Robins led at half-time, after Ben Reynolds had put Leigh up off the tee.
Sam Luckley powered over inside minutes of the second-half kicking off, and it regarded like Rovers had been on target.
Josh Charnley’s attempt gave Leigh hope however it was in useless because the hosts held out.
This win means Willie Peters has delivered a closing 4 spot, a high 4 end and a Problem Cup closing in his maiden season in cost, whereas there was additionally loads to be pleased with for counterpart Adrian Lam and his aspect Leigh aspect who’ve ripped up the rule e book following promotion with a primary cup win in 52 years and a play-off look.
Of their first residence play-off sport since 2009, Rovers grew into the sport to get the higher of their Problem Cup conquerors, bringing a extra attacking, offloading sport that the Leopards struggled to deal with.
The Robins have by no means been to a Grand Last and their final main trophy got here with the title again in 1985, and as such there was real fever across the east aspect of town for this sport.
Against this, a well-outnumbered Leigh assist noticed their aspect well-controlled in a sport of excessive completion and low errors, as a packed Craven Park discovered its voice.
Again-field runners Corridor, Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Louis Senior carted the ball as much as give their forwards a well-earned break, and the second part torched the guests with a ruck-speed that was simply too sizzling to deal with.
Their tries had been superbly crafted, as first James Batchelor hit a tough line after which squeezed out a fantastic pop to the supporting Walker to dive over.
Left-edge ball motion sliced Leigh open down the left with Matt Parcell denied, just for Corridor to floor regardless of Joe Mellor’s determined effort to cease him.
Luckley ripped via off the again of additional fast ruck-speed, after Gareth O’Brien’s knock-on gifted discipline place, and the sport additional went the house aspect’s method after a Leopards attempt was chalked off for obstruction.
Charnley’s glorious end out left from a go from Rovers-bound Oliver Gildart, after the hosts’ right-edge clocked off, introduced them vitality and set a couple of jitters concerning the floor.
Indiscipline late on gave Penrith-bound Schneider an opportunity to really settle it late on with a penalty objective, nonetheless, and the celebrations on the finish had been suitably raucous.
Amid heat applause, retiring centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall and departing hero Schneider addressed the followers late on, who will now be ready to know whether or not they head to Perpignan or Wigan for his or her subsequent a part of the journey.
League Leaders’ Defend winners Wigan face the lowest-ranked aspect of their play-off semi-final subsequent week with Catalans welcoming whichever crew completed the common season highest.
Reigning champions St Helens tackle Warrington Wolves on Saturday within the second of this yr’s Tremendous League eliminators.
Hull KR boss Willie Peters informed BBC Radio Humberside:
“I am very proud, that is the primary phrase that involves thoughts. This was our fifth time taking part in Leigh, we knew it might be powerful and so they stored coming on the finish, we caught there and confirmed character.
“We all the time got down to need to play in huge video games and we’re, we’ve some momentum behind us and we need to preserve that going.
“Whether or not we play Wigan or go to Catalans we’ll discover out tomorrow.”
Leigh boss Adrian Lam informed BBC Radio Manchester:
“It has been an unimaginable journey the final two years, I am very grateful for what we have achieved this yr. We have made the highest six. We’re disenchanted tonight and the consequence, however it was all the time going to be a mountain to climb.
“With three senior gamers out, Ricky Leutele, John Asiata and Zak Hardaker out, we had been with out our leaders.
“You may make errors within the huge video games and it is a lesson for people and for our crew. We’re constructing. Now we have a 5 yr plan.”
Hull KR: Walker; Senior, Opacic, Kenny-Dowall, Corridor; Lewis, Schneider; Sue, Parcell, King, Batchelor, Linnett, Minchella
Interchanges: Abdull, Litten, Storton, Luckley [Kennedy]
Leigh: O’Brien; Briscoe, Gildart, Chamberlain, Charnley; Reynolds, Lam; Amone, Ipape, Mulhern, Hughes, O’Donnell, Wardle
Interchanges: Mellor, Nakubuwai, Holmes, Davis [Seumanufagai]
Referee: Jack Smith