Challenge Cup: Hull KR progress to the fifth round at Saints' expense
Hull KR overcame a spirited display from 12-man St Helens to secure their place in the fifth tound of the Challenge Cup.
Last Updated: 21/04/13 7:07am
Craig Hall scored two first-half tries, although he was also on the end of an ugly-looking high shot from Francis Meli which saw the winger red-carded.
Second-half scores from Paul Wellens and rising talent Mark Percival gave Saints hope, but Greg Eden restored the home side's advantage with Liam Salter finally settling the tie.
Beaten in three of their previous four matches, the visitors looked desperately short of confidence from the start and they quickly began to pay for indiscipline.
Rovers built pressure on the back of three penalties and took the lead when Hall collected lively full-back Eden's kick to the corner to touch down by the posts for his first try.
They missed a glorious chance when winger David Hodgson dropped Kris Welham's pass with the line open, but made no mistake on 17 minutes when prop Mickey Paea took hooker Josh Hodgson's neat reverse pass to crash over for his first try of the season.
Kept alive
Michael Dobson's second goal made it 12-0 but Saints hit back when they kept the ball alive superbly for centre Jordan Turner to get Ade Gardner over for a 25th-minute try.
Tom Makinson's touchline conversion cut the deficit to six points but the dismissal of Meli left Saints with a mountain to climb. Referee Richard Silverwood had no qualms producing red for the challenge.
Dobson and his half-back partner Travis Burns combined to create an overlap and centre Liam Salter put Hall away for his second try six minutes before half-time.
It looked a lost cause for Saints but full-back Tom Makinson sparked the fightback. His 40-metre run created the position for skipper Wellens to touch down in fortuitous fashion after Wilkin's grubber kick bounced off Eden into his hands.
Buoyed by the try, Saints managed to create an overlap eight minutes later for second rower Sia Soliola to send Percival over for another and Makinson's third goal edged his side in front for the first time.
Saints' lead failed to last as Eden produced a spectacular finish only to have the try disallowed for an earlier knock-on but, not to be denied, he dummied his way over a minute later and Dobson's third goal made it 22-18.
Young forwards Alex Walmsley and Joe Greenwood did their best to rally Saints in a pulsating finale, but Hull KR clinched the win six minutes from the end when Salter gathered Eden's kick to cross for their fifth try.