Hull KR end St Helens' unbeaten Super League run with 24-22 win
Last Updated: 28/03/15 11:31am
Hull KR shocked Super League leaders St Helens 24-22 at the KC Lightstream Stadium on Friday night.
Tries from Ken Sio, Kieran Dixon and two from Albert Kelly against the run of play went with two penalty goals from Josh Mantellato to give Saints their first defeat of the season.
Saints almost fought back to level the game after Jordan Turner's try in the closing stages but Travis Burns' last-gasp conversion was wide of the posts and the hosts hung on to win.
It was Saints who started with the most purpose. In defence Hull KR were made to scramble, and in attack they were kept inside their own half.
It wasn't long before that pressure turned to points as Jon Wilkin attempted a deft kick through but it just bounced off the defender straight into his arms and he made a swift run for the line to open the scoring.
The way Saints continued to attack from that moment suggested they would mount a big score, but when they were on the tryline of their hosts they tried to put through a kick which was blocked and caught by Albert Kelly who ran the length of the field to score for the home side. With both tries converted it was 6-6.
Shortly thereafter Saints were right on the line of Hull KR but the final pass in the play was pounced on by Kelly who, from an identical spot on the field, once again ran the entire length of the field to give his side the lead for the first time.
It was defensive error that led to Saints' second try of the match. A high kick was put up by Wilkin, Josh Mantellato struggled to collect it and Tom Makinson plucked the ball and went over on the right-hand side to bring the sides level once again.
It seemed as though the teams would go into the break at 12-12 but a high kick from Terry Campese was not properly caught by the Saints defence and a fortunate bounce to Ken Sio meant he gave his side a 16-12 lead at half-time.
When the two teams came out for the second half the respective defences seemed more switched on. It took Mantellato until the 60th minute before he scored two points with the boot and he did the same five minutes later. Then with just over 10 minutes remaining Kieran Dixon slipped between two defenders close to the line to take his side to a twelve-point lead.
It appeared as though the game was done but there was a controversial moment with four minutes to go. Travis Burns appeared to have passed the ball forward to Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook but the referee disagreed and awarded the try.
It meant that Hull were forced to defend for the final few minutes but suddenly Saints were tearing up the field on the left-hand side. Turner was on the inside and got the pass to score for his side with time up. Former Hull KR player Burns stepped forward for the conversion, but sent it wide of the post and Hull KR came away with the win.
