Rovers edge out Saints
Michael Dobson slotted a late penalty to give Hull KR a 20-19 victory over St Helens at Knowsley Road.
Last Updated: 28/02/09 10:21am
Michael Dobson slotted a late penalty to give Hull KR a 20-19 victory over St Helens at Knowsley Road.
Dobson's 75th-minute effort sealed the win for the visitors and ruined Saints' hopes of drawing level with Leeds Rhinos at the top of the engage Super League.
Sean Long's 70th-minute drop-goal had put the hosts 19-18 ahead but they were punished five minutes later when Dobson was on target with a routine penalty.
Saints led three times through converted tries from Tony Puletua, Gary Wheeler and Paul Wellens but on each occasion Rovers hit back with scores from Ben Galea, Peter Fox and Jake Webster.
Scrum-half Dobson added the extras to each try to tie the scores at at 18-18 before Long found the space from 25 metres to engineer a one-pointer to put St Helens back in front before the late drama.
Saints opened the scoring through Kiwi prop Puletua - the only close-season arrival at Knowsley Road - powered over from close range in the 15th minute.
Long added the extras for 6-0 lead but Rovers quickly responded with a try of their own in the 22nd minute.
Galea force
Dobson released a perfectly timed pass to Galea, who took the ball at pace and went in under the sticks from 12 yards out. Dobson slotted the straightforward conversion to level the scores before Saints regained control of proceedings.
Puletua continued punching holes up front and was in the thick of a superb move in the 32nd minute that culminated with Andrew Dixon ushering fellow replacement Wheeler over in the left corner.
Long converted from a difficult angle to put Saints 12-6 ahead at the break.
Rover made a vibrant start to the second period and an equalising score arrived in the 44th minute when Dobson's kick down the left flank was not dealt with by Gardner, allowing Chev Walker to collect the loose ball and produce a neat short offload which sent Fox scampering over in the left corner.
Dobson's superb conversion levelled matters at 12-12 but parity only lasted for three minutes as Long sent Wellens over the whitewash and then added the conversion.
That put Saints 18-12 in front but Webster touched down after a kick from Dobson, who converted for 18-18 before Long's drop-goal edged Saints back in front.
Rovers were not to be denied, however, and victory was theirs in the 75th minute when St Helens were not square at the play-the-ball and the resultant penalty from Dobson decided matters.
