WAKEFIELD TRINITY 26 HULL KR 24
DAVE CRAVEN, DIY Kitchens Stadium, Saturday

MASON LINO proved the hero as Wakefield dumped champions Hull KR in a thrilling game which saw two players red-carded.

The halfback’s 78th-minute try saw Daryl Powell’s side snatch victory just when they thought all their hard work had gone to nothing.

Many fans were stunned when Trinity second-row Storton saw red against his former club for a 59th-minute high shot on James Batchelor.

But there could be no complaints three minutes later when prop Sauaso Sue was dismissed for a wild swinging arm on Lino.

Soon after, Tyrone May dummied through with a brilliant solo finish to put Rovers ahead for the first time.

And, even though Peta Hiku was deemed held-up late on, it seemed enough for KR – beaten Challenge Cup finalists a week ago – to claim an eighth successive Super League win.

However, Samoa international Lino, in his 100th Super League appearance, had other ideas.

He produced a lovely runaround with Jay Pitts to go over at the death and send Trinity fans ecstatic.

Trinity held an emotional minute’s silence before kick-off for legendary former coach John Kear and Geoff Oakes, a two-time Challenge Cup winner with Trinity in the 1960s, who both died last weekend.

And their players did both proud with a superb display, shrugging off the loss of centre Corey Hall to an eighth-minute injury.

It looked like it could be an off day for Rovers right from the moment May and Tom Amone left each other to deal with Trinity’s kick-off and were left watching the ball bounce dead.

Lino’s lovely cut-out pass furnished Oliver Pratt with the game’s first try on 16 minutes.

But Lino was sin-binned five minutes later for a forearm in Joe Burgess’ face on the ground – an incident which also saw the KR winger cop a yellow card for his reaction.

Powell’s side were understandably fuming when penalised for gang-tackling Hiku into touch near his own line. To rub salt into their wounds, Mikey Lewis sliced through to score in the next set, slotting the first of his two goals.

But Scott did score just after the half-hour when Jake Trueman’s hanging kick was palmed down by Isaiah Vagana.

Trinity enjoyed back-to-back tries when Josh Rourke latched onto Caius Faatili’s fine offload near halfway and stepped past opposing fullback Jack Broadbent before leaving Lewis flapping for a superb solo effort.

The hosts should have made it three tries in as many sets when Mike McMeeken stormed through the middle again but Lino’s final pass for Pratt was awful.

Again, Rovers immediately responded as Jai Whitbread – who missed Wembley due to his partner expecting their first baby – gathered May’s excellent midfield chip on the full to score.

Lewis’ conversion meant his side trailed just 16-12 at the break.

Storton bumped off both May and Whitbread to score in the 43rd minute, but Lino missed the simple conversion attempt.

And when they failed to challenge for Lewis’ next hanging kick, the ball bounced up perfectly for KR prop Sam Luckley to storm 15 metres and score.

Rhyse Martin converted but – after the red card madness – Lino had the last word.

GAMESTAR: He was far from perfect with a series of errors but Mason Lino came good at the end.

GAMEBREAKER: Lino’s 78th-minute try settled a classic.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: The sight of Wakefield fans celebrating that Mason Lino score.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Mason Lino (Wakefield)
2 pts Caius Faatili (Wakefield)
1 pt Tyrone May (Hull KR)

MATCHFACTS

TRINITY
23 Josh Rourke
2 Oliver Pratt
3 Cameron Scott
4 Corey Hall
5 Tom Johnstone
6 Jake Trueman
7 Mason Lino
8 Mike McMeeken
9 Tyson Smoothy
10 Ky Rodwell
12 Matty Storton
18 Isaiah Vagana
13 Jazz Tevaga
Subs (all used)
14 Jay Pitts
15 Caleb Hamlin-Uele
16 Caius Faatili
24 Tray Lolesio
18th man (not used)
11 Seth Nikotemo
Also in 21-man squad
17 Harvey Smith
20 Jack Sinfield
21 Jayden Myers

Tries: Pratt (16), Scott (31), Rourke (33), Storton (43), Lino (78)
Goals: Lino 3/5
Sin bin: Lino (21) – use of forearm
Dismissal: Storton (61) – high tackle

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

Tries: Lewis (26), Whitbread (37), Luckley (52), May (64)
Goals: Lewis 2/2, Martin 2/2
Sin bin: Burgess (21) – dissent
Dismissal: Sue (63) – swinging arm

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-6, 12-6, 16-6, 16-12; 20-12, 20-18, 20-24, 26-24

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Trinity: Mason Lino; Hull KR: Tyrone May

Penalty count: 8-4
Half-time: 16-12
Referee: Aaron Moore
Attendance: 8,608