Chris Chester says Hull KR will enjoy the moment after reaching the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup
Last Updated: 28/06/15 7:13pm
Hull KR coach Chris Chester was delighted with his side’s first-half display in their 32-26 Ladbrokes Challenge Cup quarter-final victory over Catalans Dragons.
Chester was less pleased with Hull KR’s second-half efforts but stressed his side would savour their accomplishment.
Rovers powered into a 24-0 lead inside 28 minutes thanks to tries from Ken Sio, Kieran Dixon, Albert Kelly and Graeme Horne, but the Dragons were much improved after the break, recent signing Krisnan Inu scoring two of their five tries.
Chester said: “It was a very dominant first half. We were very good defensively, put them under a lot of pressure, and they came up with mistakes.
"We tried to take some juice out of them early doors, got some joy with it, and scored some good tries.
"We went away from that in the second half and let a good Catalans side back into the game.
"We were very sloppy in the second half. Our execution was pretty poor, passes were going to ground, and our first contact wasn't great.
"The penalty count was 9-3 in the second half and we put ourselves under a lot of pressure. We know how good Catalans are, they've got strike players who cause us lot of problems.
"But the main thing is we're in the semi-finals. Let's enjoy this moment, it was a great performance from the boys."
Hull KR, whose last semi-final appearance was in 2006, are fighting to get out of the bottom four in Super League, and Chester is now looking towards next Tuesday’s re-arranged home match against Salford.
He added: “I've got a lot of upset people who have been left out tonight but, in the bigger picture, we've got a Super League campaign to focus on.
"The Challenge Cup is a priority for me, it's been a long time since the club have been in a semi-final, but we've got to make sure we back it up on Tuesday. We don't want to lose touch with those teams around us."
Dragons coach Laurent Frayssinous said: “It was too hard to come back from conceding 26 points but I'm pretty proud that the boys had a dig and tried to stay alive in this competition.
"Our Challenge Cup is over, what we have to do now is make sure we finish in the top eight or the top six."
Having twice being fined for publicly criticising officials so far this season, Frayssinous was cryptic in his comments about referee Phil Bentham.
"You have your own opinions," he said. "I have already spent too much money. I still don't understand some stuff.
"I was angry at someone. There were some poor things on the field from a lot of people."