After mounting a spirited comeback, Hull KR lost in the last minute to Catalans Dragons.
Hull KR were unable to complete a comeback against Catalans Dragons.
Hull KR were left heartbroken in Perpignan as Catalans Dragons scored late to secure a 26-20 victory at Stade Gilbert Brutus, despite the Robins fighting back from 20-6 down.
Having looked out of the contest, Rovers mounted a late spirited comeback in the second half, with tries from Joe Burgess and Tom Amone cutting the deficit. A penalty goal from Mikey Lewis levelled the scores on 75 minutes to set up a tense finish, with momentum seemingly on the visitors’ side.
However, it was the hosts who had the final say. Teenage winger Lenny Marc crossed in the closing moments, leaving Rovers to rue a missed opportunity when Jack Broadbent broke clear but produced a loose offload.
On his 100th Super League appearance, Tyrone May opened the scoring after nine minutes against his former club, stepping past Romain Navarrete close to the line. In the absence of Rhyse Martin, replaced by Tom Whitehead to start in the back-row, Lewis converted to give Hull KR a 6-0 lead.
Momentum soon swung in favour of the Dragons however. Zac Lipowicz crossed twice, the first coming from a short pass by half-back Lewis Dodd. The second followed a powerful surge from Chris Satae, with Lipowicz finishing after a pass from Toby Sexton, beating Peta Hiku. Sexton also added a penalty goal in between as the Dragons led 14-6 at the break.
Hull KR started the second half slowly, and Catalans capitalised when hooker Alrix Da Costa sent Navarrete over to extend the lead to 20-6 after 58 minutes. Catalans were doing it tough, losing both Josh Allen and Julian Bousquet to failed head injury assessments in the opening exchanges. Matthieu Laguerre was also forced from the field in the first half with a leg injury, while Lewis Dodd also picked up a knock and couldn’t complete the match. It saw the Dragons active their 18th man, with Harvey Wilson featuring.
Burgess reignited hope for the Robins on 65 minutes, finishing out wide after Hull KR moved the ball quickly, before beating full-back Charlie Staines for his 150th Super League try. Rovers struck again soon after, with Amone touching down from a delicate kick by May, swinging momentum back towards the reigning Super League champions.
England international Lewis then made it 20-20 with a penalty goal after Jez Litten was taken high following a break involving Oliver Gildart, setting up a dramatic finale.
A pivotal moment followed when Broadbent sliced through from a kick to put Hull KR in prime drop-goal territory, only for the stand-in full-back to throw a loose offload that Catalans gathered.
The hosts made them pay. A few plays later, 19-year-old outside-back Marc crossed to seal victory and secure the Dragons’ third win of the season at 26-20.
Hull KR: Jack Broadbent, Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess, Mikey Lewis, Tyrone May, Sauaso Sue, Jez Litten, Dean Hadley, Tom Whitehead, James Batchelor, Elliot Minchella.
Bench: Tom Amone, Sam Luckley, Jai Whitbread, Bill Leyland.
Tries: May (9’), Burgess (64’), Amone (72′)
Goals: Lewis 4/4
Catalans Dragons: Charlie Staines, Nick Cotric, Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e, Solomona Faataape, Lenny Marc, Toby Sexton, Lewis Dodd, Josh Allen, Alrix Da Costa, Romain Navarrete, Zac Lipowicz, Matthieu Laguerre, Ben Garcia.
Bench: Chris Satae, Julian Bousquet, Kruise Leeming, Tiaki Chan.
Tries: Lipowicz (14’, 36’), Navarrete (57’), Marc (79’)
Goals: Sexton 5/5