Rovers are going to Wembley again
Hull KR’s Joe Burgess is congratulated on his try against Warrington
Book that hotel and sort the train tickets, Hull KR are going to Wembley once more after beating Warrington Wolves 32-12.
The Robins turned in a dominant performance at the Eco-Power Stadium to book their spot in the Challenge Cup final and keep their hopes of retaining the crown they won last year alive.
Wigan Warriors will be their opponents under the arch of the national stadium, in what will be a repeat of the last two Super League Grand Finals as the two best teams in recent years go head to head for silverware once more.
Rovers, backed by a crowd of around 8,000, made the perfect start in South Yorkshire, forcing Warrington back towards their own line and when the mistake came, they pounced. Josh Thewlis, back in the side after injury, was the man that committed it, spilling a Mikey Lewis kick 10 metres off his own try line.
KR didn’t force it, kept their cool and when the gap in the defensive line opened up, Tyrone May put James Batchelor through it, with the back-rower touching down unopposed in front of the travelling red and white army.
Rovers simply refused to take their foot off the gas and they almost scored another as Joe Burgess looked for the corner before being shoved out of play by Thewlis.
When they’re in such an unforgiving mood, few can hang with the Robins and Warrington were struggling for air as their opponents suffocated them. Even the usually reliable Marc Sneyd was kicking balls out on the full, which only served to pile the pressure on the side in primrose and blue.
And, after going so close earlier on, Burgess managed to get KR’s second as he dived over the line acrobatically to touch down in the corner.
Warrington did manage to find a bit of traction after that and Ben Currie touched down a Sneyd kick that Lewis failed to deal with to get the Wolves on the board.
The first half ended with more Rovers pressure, though, as Rhyse Martin was held up over the line.
Warrington huffed and puffed in the second half, but as was the case in the first 40 minutes, the moments of real magic came from the east Hull outfit, who scored a third try through Oliver Gildart.
Attacking straight from the scrum, Tyrone May put the centre through a hole in the Wire line and Gildart had the legs to get over the line.
Rhyse Martin extended KR’s lead through the boot after they were awarded a penalty and with less than 10 minutes remaining, Burgess put the result beyond doubt.
Capitalising on a spilled Martin kick, Rovers collected the ball and Burgess was there to dive over in the corner. Cue pandemonium.
Sam Stone pulled one back for the Wire, but Batchelor managed to put the finishing touches on another fine afternoon for Hull KR.