HULL KR 36 HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS 6
JAMES CHESTNEY, Sewell Group Craven Park, Friday
WILLIE PETERS was given a fine Craven Park send-off as his final home game as Hull KR coach brought the victory that secured their place in the play-offs.
On an emotional night in East Hull, the PNG Chiefs-bound Peters saw his side, led by two tries by Arthur Mourgue, see off Huddersfield.
But the defending champions can no longer make the top four, meaning the route back to Old Trafford will now have to be navigated exclusively away from home.
Hull KR’s tries all came in clusters, with three in the space of eight minutes early in the first half, then a further three in just six minutes late on.
Captain Elliot Minchella found a gap in the Giants’ line for the opener after successive penalties, then Mourgue was played in by Tyrone May and the Frenchman danced his way round the Giants defenders to score.
Rovers were certainly in the mood for it and Jack Broadbent was next over after a break by Minchella, and with Mourgue converting all three efforts, they were 18-0 up in as many minutes.
The Giants did have a chance to score with eleven minutes of the half left as Tanguy Zenon went for the corner only to be bundled unto touch by Tom Davies.
They also lost Mathieu Cozza to a head injury before half-time, although an untidy period finished with Zenon managing to squeeze over in the corner, where Tui Lolohea added the extras.
It was Rovers who opened the scoring after the break when Rhyse Martin added a penalty-goal, reopening a three-score lead.
The hosts should have been out of sight in the second half, but errors by Tom Davies and Hiku as they headed for the line kept Huddersfield in it. Hiku also got over the line but the pass to him from May was forward.
Those three quick tries in the closing stages finally saw Rovers round off their victory.
Firstly, on the back of a six-again, Jez Litten scooted from dummy half to score and Martin added the extras.
Just three minutes later, Mourgue added his second of the night as Minchella found Tom Amone who then returned it to his skipper, and he played in the fullback to go under the posts, with Martin adding another two points.
The final score of the three came with ten minutes remaining as the Robins spread the ball right through May and Broadbent into the arms of Davies who grounded the ball. This time Martin hit the post with his touchline conversion, but the job was done.
GAMESTAR: Arthur Mourgue scored two tries and kicked three goals on a solid night for the Frenchman.
GAMEBREAKER: Jez Litten’s score 16 minutes from time saw the game put out of Huddersfield’s grasp.
HIGHLIGHT REEL: The ball went though the hands of Elliot Minchella to Tom Amone, back to Minchella then on for Arthur Mourgue’s second try of the night.
ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Arthur Mourgue (Hull KR)
2 pts Jez Litten (Hull KR)
1 pt Tom Amone (Hull KR)
MATCHFACTS
HULL KR
14 Jack Broadbent
2 Tom Davies
3 Peta Hiku
4 Oliver Gildart
5 Joe Burgess
1 Arthur Mourgue
7 Tyrone May
8 Sauaso Sue
9 Jez Litten
10 Tom Amone
11 Dean Hadley
16 Jai Whitbread
13 Elliot Minchella
Subs (all used)
15 Sam Luckley
17 Rhyse Martin
19 Karl Lawton
22 Bill Leyland
18th man (not used)
33 Frankie Dearlove
Also in 21-man squad
21 Noah Booth
25 Louix Gorman
28 Zach Fishwick
Tries: Minchella (9), Mourgue (12, 68), Broadbent (17), Litten (64), Davies (70)
Goals: Mourgue 3/3, Martin 3/4
GIANTS
1 Niall Evalds
4 Taane Milne
3 Jacob Gagai
5 Sam Halsall
42 Lewis Jagger
6 Tui Lolohea
7 Adam Clune
8 Tristan Powell
9 Zac Woolford
16 George King
20 Mathieu Cozza
17 Joe Greenwood
13 Harry Rushton
Subs (all used)
14 Fenton Rogers
18 Kieran Rush
22 Jack Billington
29 Tanguy Zenon
18th man (not used)
45 Oliver Leyland
Also in 21-man squad
28 Logan Blacker
– Matty Hanley
– Stan Hobson
Tries: Zenon (39)
Goals: Lolohea 1/1
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0, 18-6; 20-6, 26-6, 32-6, 36-6
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Hull KR: Arthur Mourgue; Giants: Tanguy Zenon
Penalty count: 9-6
Half-time: 18-6
Referee: Marcus Griffiths
Attendance: 11,541