Sunday 20 March 2016 19:08, UK
Hull KR withstood a second-half fightback from Salford to climb off the foot of the table with a 44-30 win.
The win is Hull KR's first Super League victory of the season.
The Robins looked to have had the game secured by half-time when they led 30-6, and though Michael Dobson sparked a revival for the Red Devils, the visitors were unable to complete an unlikely comeback in a 12-try thriller at the KC Lightstream Stadium.
Maurice Blair starred for Hull KR, with the Australian performing the playmaking role in the absence of injured half-backs Terry Campese and Albert Kelly.
Salford actually made the better start of the two, and went ahead after four minutes when prop Craig Kopzcak took Tommy Lee's short pass to go through a gap for the opening try, which Gareth O'Brien converted.
Blair then brought his side into action, forcing his way past some unsuccessful tackling for a solo try on 14 minutes, and winger Josh Mantellato, back after a five-match injury absence, kicked the first of his eight goals to convert.
Two minutes later Cockayne broke from inside his own half and held off his pursuers long enough to send centre Iain Thornley over at the corner.
When Salford full-back Niall Evalds fumbled Blair's high kick 10 metres out from his own line, the Australian was quick to snap up the loose ball and get Graeme Horne over for Hull KR's third try.
Another break by Blair created an opportunity for Ken Sio to cross in the corner, and any hope of a fightback from the visitors appeared to have eroded when Cockayne burst clear to send substitute James Greenwood over for Rovers' fifth try shortly before the break.
The Red Devils re-discovered their energy and enthusiasm in the second half, led by Dobson.
The scrum-half broke through the Robins defence on half-way to get prop George Griffin galloping away, before producing a short pass near the line to get the Griffin over for his second try in three minutes.
O'Brien added both conversions to cut the lead to 30-18, and Mantellato sent a shot at goal wide which would have eased the growing concerns of the home side.
The comeback was well and truly on when winger Greg Johnson finished off a team effort that began on the right, and O'Brien added the touchline goal to bring his side to within six points.
They could have been level had Griffin made more of another break, but the chance went begging and Rovers hit back when Cockayne and Sio combined to get Ryan Shaw over for their first try of the second half after 66 minutes. Mantellato curled the conversion through the posts from the touchline.
There was still another twist when Kopczak took Lee's short pass to crash over for his second try, and right winger Justin Carney failed to make the most of a clear overlap moments later, before scrum-half Matty Marsh finished off the scoring with Rovers' seventh try.
