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
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