HULL KR 6 WAKEFIELD TRINITY 20
JAMES CHESTNEY, Sewell Group Craven Park, Saturday

A BRACE of tries from Caius Faatili showed why Wakefield are in the hunt for honours come the season’s end after beating world champions Hull KR.

By inflicting the Robins’ first defeat in their own backyard this year, Trinity completed an impressive double – and did so as the first team to prevent Hull KR from scoring a try at Craven Park in ten years.

On a breezy afternoon in East Hull, it was the visitors who scored the only try of the first half as Rovers conceded two quick penalties for dissent.

This gave Trinity vital yardage and they made it count with just nine minutes on the watch as Harvey Smith found a gap in the Robins’ line to wriggle over and open the scoring. Tyson Smoothy sliced his conversion attempt but the visitors had the lead.

Things got worse for the Robins as with 13 minutes gone Peta Hiku was sin binned for a late shot on Will Tate.

Rovers managed to reduce their deficit to just two points however with a Rhyse Martin penalty goal following dissent by Wakefield.

And the scores were soon levelled up as Ky Rodwell was also sent for ten minutes for holding down Oliver Gildart in a tackle, and Martin added the penalty goal to make it 4-4.

In what was becoming a very stop-start game, the momentum swung back towards Trinity with four minutes of the half left. They were awarded a penalty after a high shot off the ball by Elliot Minchella and Smoothy added two points with ease to get his side back in front.

That wasn’t the end of the scoring though as Martin levelled the game with another penalty goal, this time for interference at the ruck after back to back six-agains.

The second half didn’t start well for the home side as they lost Sam Luckley to a HIA.

The game was then turned on its head after Rovers forced a drop-out from a Tyrone May high kick but Lewis lost possession from a Jez Litten pass. Wakefield then broke down field and after Minchella was penalised for a high shot, Faatili forced his way over the line and Smoothy added the conversion for a 12-6 Trinity lead.

The visitors then took advantage of a Jai Whitbread knock-on and once again Faatili found his way to the Rovers line to get his second of the afternoon. Smoothy again added two points to give his side a twelve-point lead.

That lead soon became 14 as when Tom Davies looked to have broken clear of the Trinity line, referee Chris Kendall pulled the play back for obstruction and Smoothy stepped up to add an additional two points.

From there Trinity saw the game out to claim what could be two vital points once play-off positions are decided.

GAMESTAR: Caius Faatili scored a brace for his side and provided constant powerful forward running.

GAMEBREAKER: Faatili’s second try saw Trinity open up a twelve-point lead.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: The Mikey Lewis dropped ball which saw Trinity up the field and ended with Caius Faatili’s first try.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Caius Faatili (Wakefield)
2 pts Tyson Smoothy (Wakefield)
1 pt Jake Trueman (Wakefield)

MATCHFACTS

HULL KR
34 Ryan Hampshire
2 Tom Davies
3 Peta Hiku
4 Oliver Gildart
5 Joe Burgess
6 Mikey Lewis
7 Tyrone May
8 Sauaso Sue
19 Karl Lawton
16 Jai Whitbread
17 Rhyse Martin
12 James Batchelor
13 Elliot Minchella
Subs (all used)
9 Jez Litten
14 Jack Broadbent
15 Sam Luckley
20 Jordan Dezaria
18th man (not used)
22 Bill Leyland
Also in 21-man squad
1 Arthur Mourgue
21 Noah Booth
24 Jack Charles

Goals: Martin 3/3
Sin bin: Hiku (13) – late tackle

TRINITY
23 Josh Rourke
19 Lachlan Walmsley
3 Cameron Scott
32 Will Tate
5 Tom Johnstone
6 Jake Trueman
9 Tyson Smoothy
8 Mike McMeekan
17 Harvey Smith
10 Ky Rodwell
18 Isaiah Vagana
12 Matty Storton
13 Jazz Tevaga
Subs (all used)
14 Jay Pitts
15 Caleb Hamlin-Uele
16 Caius Faatili
27 Myles Lawford
18th man (not used)
24 Tray Lolesio
Also in 21-man squad
1 Max Jowitt
11 Seth Nikotemo
21 Jayden Myers

Tries: Smith (9), Faatili (52, 58)
Goals: Smoothy 4/5
Sin bin: Rodwell (21) – professional foul

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-4, 2-4, 4-4, 4-6, 6-6: 6-12, 6-18, 6-20

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Hull KR: Ryan Hampshire; Trinity: Caius Faatili

Penalty count: 10-8
Half-time: 6-6
Referee: Chris Kendall