HULL KR have made it to Old Trafford for a Super League Grand Final for the first time with an incredible 10-8 win over Warrington Wolves in controversial circumstances.
It’s fair to say Rovers enjoyed the ascendancy in the opening exchanges and a 16th minute try from James Batchelor was just desserts for the home side’s efforts. Mikey Lewis, however, couldn’t convert as KR led 4-0.
The Wolves thought they had responded as the half-hour approached when Matt Dufty scythed through the KR line, but play was brought back for a harsh obstruction by Matty Nicholson on Tyrone May.
Controversy then struck when Joe Burgess scampered over from dummy-half with no evidence of the ball touching the line. Yet with Liam Moore’s on-field try call, video referee Jack Smith decided not to overturn that decision. Lewis converted to make it 10-0 with half-time in view.
HALF-TIME: HULL KR 10-0 WARRINGTON WOLVES
Whatever Warrington boss Sam Burgess said at half-time certainly worked, and Matty Ashton’s great finish just five minutes after the break put the cat amongst the pigeons. Josh Thewlis, however, couldn’t convert with Rovers still leading 10-4.
With the hour in sight, Ashton grabbed a second with an incredible finish as the Wolves completed a superb turnaround. But Thewlis missed his second conversion of the night as KR still led 10-8.
Those conversions effectively sealed the game as Warrington just couldn’t breach the Rovers line before the end as KR held on.
Hull KR
2 Niall Evalds – 8
35 Joe Burgess – 9
1 Peta Hiku – 7
36 Jack Broadbent – 6
5 Ryan Hall – 6
27 Tyrone May – 6
7 Mikey Lewis – 7
8 Sauaso Sue – 9
14 Matt Parcell – 6
16 Jai Whitbread – 6
17 Matty Storton – 5
12 James Batchelor – 8
11 Dean Hadley – 7
Substitutes
9 Jez Litten – 5
15 Sam Luckley – 6
20 Kelepi Tanginoa – 8
37 Jack Brown – 6
Tries: Batchelor (16), Burgess (35)
Goals: Lewis 1/2
Warrington Wolves
1 Matt Dufty – 7
2 Josh Thewlis – 5
14 Rodrick Tai – 5
3 Toby King – 8
5 Matty Ashton – 9
6 George Williams – 7
7 Josh Drinkwater – 6
42 Luke Yates – 8
9 Danny Walker – 6
8 James Harrison – 7
43 John Bateman – 6
13 Matty Nicholson – 6
11 Ben Currie – 6
Substitutes
10 Paul Vaughan – 7
15 Joe Philbin – 7
17 Jordy Crowther – 5
32 Sam Powell – 6
Tries: Ashton (45, 58)
Goals: Thewlis 0/2
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