Player ratings as Hull KR overcome Leeds Rhinos in Super League affair

HULL KR withstood a strong Leeds Rhinos effort to register a 22-12 win over their Super League rivals, with three more yellow cards being shown.

Leeds were forced into an early change with Lachlan Miller taking ill before kick-off so youngster Alfie Edgell came in at fullback.

However, after Ash Handley caught Peta Hiku’s pocket from a kick, the latter was sinbinned for a professional foul after just six minutes.

The Rhinos took advantage of the extra man with Harry Newman crashing over five minutes later to break the deadlock. Rhyse Martin converted for a 6-0 lead.

Both sides traded big hits and errors before Rovers finally levelled proceedings just after the half-hour mark when Sauaso Sue dotted down a brilliant Jez Litten grubber. Litten converted to make it 6-6.

Edgell’s error from a Mikey Lewis bomb laid the platform for Leeds to go down to 12 men when James Donaldson hit Oliver Gildart round the head on the half-time whistle. Litten added the penalty to put KR into an 8-6 lead at the break.

Ryan Hall extended Rovers’ lead on 46 minutes with Gildart doing brilliantly well to scoop a pass to the winger following a loose ball. Litten converted expertly from out wide to make it 14-6.

Back came the Rhinos though with one of the tries of the season as Brodie Croft’s pinpoint kick in his own 20-metre area fell straight into Handley’s arms, with the Leeds winger running 80 metres for a scintillating score. Martin converted to bring the visitors back to within two at 14-12 as the hour approached.

The Rhinos were cut down to 12 men once more with 14 minutes remaining when Sam Lisone was yellow carded for a high tackle on Elliot Minchella. Litten gladly added another two points for a 16-12 lead.

And Rovers duly exploited the extra man once more with Hiku racing on to a pinpoint Tyrone May kick through. Litten extended the hosts’ lead to 22-12 and settle the game.

Hull KR
1 Peta Hiku – 6
2 Niall Evalds – 7
3 Tom Opacic – 6
4 Oliver Gildart – 7
5 Ryan Hall- 8
27 Tyrone May – 8
7 Mikey Lewis – 7
16 Jai Whitbread – 8
9 Jez Litten – 9
10 George King – 6
20 Kelepi Tanginoa – 7
12 James Batchelor – 7
13 Elliot Minchella – 8
Substitutes
8 Sauaso Sue – 7
17 Matty Storton – 7
19 Yusuf Aydin –
21 Corey Hall – 5

Tries: Sue (32), Hall (46), Hiku (71)
Goals: Litten 4/4
Sinbin: Hiku (6) – professional foul

Leeds Rhinos
29 Alfie Edgell – 7
24 Luis Roberts – 5
3 Harry Newman – 5
4 Paul Momirovski – 5
5 Ash Handley – 9
6 Brodie Croft – 7
7 Matt Frawley – 6
17 Justin Sangare – 7
9 Andy Ackers – 6
18 Mickael Goudemand – 6
11 James Bentley – 6
12 Rhyse Martin – 6
13 Cameron Smith – 7
Substitutes
14 Jarrod O’Connor – 5
15 Sam Lisone – 4
23 Leon Ruan – 5
25 James Donaldson – 4

Tries: Newman (11), Handley (56)
Goals: Martin 2/2
Sinbin: Donaldson (40) – high tackle
Lisone (66) – high tackle

Click here to purchase a digital edition of League Express.

Click here to purchase an online edition of League Express through pocketmags.com.

Click here to listen to our new League Express Podcast.

League Express is widely available from local newsagents across the north of England.