Leeds Rhinos 10 Hull KR 17: Hull KR finally end run by beating depleted Rhinos

Justin Morgan's men edged a titanic battle with scheming scrum-half Michael Dobson proving the difference as Rovers picked up their first success at Headingley since 1985 to heap more misery on the struggling champions.

Injury-ravaged Rhinos have now lost more games than they have won this season following a fourth defeat but it would be hard to criticise their efforts last night given the state of their personnel problems.

Rovers showed excellent character, bouncing back from last week's loss against Wakefield, but Leeds were without eight regulars, saw five players included in the original 19-man squad all fail to make the team sheet, and had England captain Jamie Peacock limp off on the hour mark to further deepen their woes.

Kevin Sinfield missed a third game in a row and Ryan Hall (knee), Danny Buderus (foot) and Ryan Bailey (ill) were all also absent, and Tom Bush – the apprentice plumber expected to replace cruciate victim Kallum Watkins – failed to shake off his own knee injury suffered in an Unde-20s game last week.

It meant reserve grade second row Chris Clarkson made his Super League debut – on the wing – while former Doncaster centre Michael Coady did likewise on the other side.

Ex-Whitehaven forward Kyle Amor also got his first taste of the top flight as a makeshift Leeds team went into battle seemingly with no chance of success.

However, they got off to the perfect start, Jamie Jones-Buchanan charging down Dobson's kick to regather and score after only 52 seconds, Rob Burrow slotting the conversion.

It was just the start they needed to instil some confidence and they continued impressively, absorbing plenty of Rovers pressure and proving well-organised in defence.

They should have doubled their advantage in the ninth minute. Danny McGuire slipped through some paper-thin Rovers tackling up the middle and drew Shaun Briscoe but Peacock – of all people – failed to take the pass and let the visitors off the hook.

Keith Senior then dropped Brent Webb's pass and it was some of the champions' elder statesmen who seemed to be struggling rather than the inexperienced rookies.

Jones-Buchanan made their first unforced error, gifting away possession, and in the next set Rovers struck for a 23rd-minute score.

Dobson's splendid pass put Kris Welham on the outside of Brett Delaney and he fed in-form winger Liam Colbon into the corner.

Dobson was unable to convert but did so three minutes later after England star Peter Fox scrambled over.

Senior – defending on the wing – was easily outstripped by Jake Webster who then did brilliantly to find a long inside pass back inside to Fox, the former Rhinos Academy winger heaping more misery on Senior by shrugging off his last-ditch attempt to stop him.

Senior later palmed down McGuire's kick straight into the waiting arms of Dobson who sprinted clear.

However, an outstanding effort from Burrow saw the scrum-half chase down his opposite number in a thrilling 60-metre dash, denying the Rovers man a certain try with a perfect tackle which epitomised the spirit shown all night by the champions.

But, after Amor spilled another pass, Rovers worked downfield and Dobson caught Leeds napping with a clever reverse kick back towards the posts.

Ali Lauitiiti dithered and a racing Briscoe ate up the ground to pounce between the posts, handing Dobson a simple kick.

Scott Murrell dropped the re-start though, handing Leeds an immediate chance to respond and it needed Briscoe to scramble across and nudge Clarkson into touch.

Senior replied with a well-worked try in the 48th minute, finishing in typical style after fine handling from Burrow, Webb and Lauitiiti.

Burrow could not convert from wide out and Leeds spurned another gift opportunity when the otherwise excellent McGuire dropped on the first tackle under no pressure from an attacking scrum position.

Rovers, with Ben Galea equally as impressive as Dobson and proving there is life after Paul Cooke, showed plenty of control when it mattered most and consistently denied Leeds when the hosts pressed hard in the final quarter.

It was a sign of how tough it had all been though that Dobson had to tag on a drop-goal to make sure in the 78th minute.

Leeds Rhinos: Webb; Coady, Delaney, Senior, Clarkson; McGuire, Burrow; Leuluai, Diskin, Peacock, Kirke, Pitts, Jones-Buchanan. Substitutes: Lauitiiti, Burgess, Amor, McShane.

Hull KR: Briscoe; Fox, Webster, Welham, Colbon; Murrell, Dobson; 'ella, Hodgson, Clinton, Lo'egro'e, Newton, Galea. Substitutes: Wheeldon, Netherton, Fisher, Watts.

Referee: S Ganson (St Helens).