Hull KR 14 Catalan Dragons 32: Dragons loss typifies Hull KR’s season, laments Chester

Leading 14-12 after 53 minutes, the Robins were still in the game, but they once again folded without much of a fight.

Chester was disappointed his side could not give co-captain Josh Hodgson the home send off he deserved before joining Canberra Raiders next season.

“It was a typical end of season performance and it typifies our season,” Chester said.

“We had a good chance to win the game and we were in it for 50 to 60 minutes, but we just ran out of gas in the end.

“I’d like to thank people like Josh Hodgson.

“He’s been a great leader and a great help to me.

“I’m desperately disappointed him because he was playing his final home game and we didn’t want to send him out on a bad note.”

It was only the Dragons’ fourth away victory of the season.

Rovers actually opened the scoring in the ninth minute after forcing a repeat set close to the visitors try line and a penalty for Craig Hall’s quick hands meant Liam Salter had the space to dive over in the left hand corner, Travis Burns converting.

The lead lasted five minutes. Catalan broke down their right-hand side with Elliott Whitehead and Ben Pomeroy combining to send Michael Oldfield away, Thomas Bosc adding the extras.

The Dragons took the lead in the 28th minute. From a scrum 20 metres from their own line, they went down the blindside where Whitehead offloaded to Oldfield who scored from 60 metres, shrugging off a poor attempted tackle by the back tracking Greg Eden. Bosc converted for a 12-6 lead.

Rovers rallied and scored seven minutes before half-time. Macauley Hallett, making his Rovers debut, marked his big day with a try. Eden’s long pass left Hallett with plenty to do, but he remained composed to spin his way over the line at full stretch. Burns missed the conversion.

Jason Chan bounced out of several tackles in a darting run across the pitch to give KR the lead again. Burns missed his second conversion of the match to leave the Robins leading 14-12.

Catalan were awarded a penalty for obstruction and while Rovers stood around, Sam Williams quickly tapped the ball and sprinted 65 metres to score. Bosc converted to give the visitors an 18-14 lead.

Rovers were finally put out of their misery in the 70th minute when Oldfield completed his hat-trick. Bosc’s missed conversion made it 22-14.

Williams compounded Rovers’ misery with his second try, following up his own kick.

Bosc’s third missed kick did not matter.

He then finished the game by converting Morgan Escare’s 25th try of the season.

Hull KR: Eden, Hallett, Horne, Hall, Salter, Burns, Keating, A. Walker, J. Hodgson, Weyman, Larroyer, Chan, Costigan. Substitutes: Carlile, Green, Netherton, Esslemont.

Catalan Dragons: Escare, Oldfield, Pomeroy, Duport, Millard, Bosc, Williams, Elima, Henderson, Anderson, Taia, Whitehead, Mounis. Substitutes: Pelissier, Bousquet, Paea, Garcia.

Referee: R Silverwood (RFL).