The Robins lost 34-12 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium
Mikey Lewis of Hull Kingston Rovers is sent to the sin bin by referee Liam Moore(Image: SW Pix)
Hull KR’s spot in the Super League play-offs is in real risk after they were thumped 34-12 by Warrington Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Willie Peters’ side needed to bounce back after last week’s loss to Wakefield Trinity but they were well-beaten by Warrington, who scored six tries and four in the first half.
Lachlan Webster got the scoreboard ticking over for the hosts before James Harrison, Matty Ashton and Danny Walker also touched down.
Rovers did get over in the second half through Oliver Gildart but not before Joe Philbin added to Warrington’s lead and Ashton grabbed a second late on. James Batchelor scored KR’s second.
Ultimately, then, after their third defeat in four games, Rovers will drop out of the top six if Leigh Leopards beat Hull FC this evening.
Rovers appeared to start the game so well with Mikey Lewis pinning Warrington back with a 40/20 and Oliver Gildart had a try ruled out for offside after seeing a deep Lewis kick bounce favourably into his hands.
However, handling errors from the visiting side let Warrington into the game and Sam Burgess’ outfit made them pay.
After being invited to camp themselves on KR’s line, they spread it wide to Webster, who slipped through the shoddy attempts of Oliver Gildart and Noah Booth to tackle and touched down in the corner.
That set the tone for a first half in which the hosts built up a strong lead.
James Harrison got the second, running a great line to latch onto Leon Hayes’ lay off and beat Batchelor before powering through Arthur Mourgue’s last ditch efforts to tackle and finish.
Toff Sipley made a big impact after stepping off the Warrington bench, with the powerhouse prop having a say in Warrington’s third, bouncing off Jez Litten before shifting the ball left to Toby King who burst down the line.
Rovers were scrambling to cover but as Matty Ashton clung onto the pass and stepped inside, Tom Davies and Mourgue collided to pave the way for the winger to stroll through and score.
And, it wasn’t long before Rovers were gathered under their own sticks again as Sipley cruised through a huge hole in the KR line to break away and put Walker over.
Rovers were their own worst enemies in the first half with the defensive mentality that took them so far last season deserting them in Cheshire.
Warrington gifted KR chances at the start of the second half through mistakes of their own but the East Yorkshire outfit weren’t capable of taking them with Mourgue throwing KR’s best opportunity into touch.
And, Warrington punished again as they touched down for a fifth time through Philbin, who powered through Karl Lawton’s attempts to tackle with ease.
For the first time in two games, KR did manage to get themselves on the board as Lewis found his Gildart in space on the left edge and the centre had enough about him to finish.
Lewis let himself down though as he earned himself a yellow card for a late shot before Ashton wrapped things up by touching down Toby King’s kick.