Castleford 16 Hull KR 58: Kelly helps Rovers restore lost pride with win at Tigers

Albert Kelly inspired Hull KR to only their third Super League win of the season as coach James Webster got the perfect response after his team's shock 36-22 Challenge Cup exit against Oldham.
Castleford player Nathan Massey is held by the Hull KR defence.Castleford player Nathan Massey is held by the Hull KR defence.
Castleford player Nathan Massey is held by the Hull KR defence.

The mercurial Australian, out of action since the Good Friday derby against Hull, outshone England hopeful Luke Gale as the Robins’ victory lifted them above champions Leeds Rhinos into 10th spot.

Kelly crossed for one of the visitors’ 11 tries – which included a hat-trick for centre Thomas Minns – and was directly involved with another five as Webster’s squad shrugged off the criticism caused by their home cup knock-out to Championship opposition.

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Winger Ken Sio and centre Iain Thornley also grabbed doubles as Hull KR ended a run of six games without victory against Daryl Powell’s sloppy home side, who failed to score in the second half.

Bidding for a first away win at the Jungle since February 2010, Hull KR made a perfect start.

Sio returned Gale’s kick-off with a 60m run to lay the platform for Maurice Blair to bulldoze over from Iain Thornley’s off-load. Full-back Ben Cockayne, who finished with seven goals, landed a fine conversion.

Castleford hit back through Jake Webster and Gale goaled to bring the Tigers level.

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Ryan Hampshire’s first touchdown since his move from Wigan and another Gale conversion took Cas in front, only for Kelly to inspire Rovers’ response.

Minns, Graeme Horne and Kelly crossed in the space of 10 minutes, Cockayne added one conversion and the Robins were 20-12 in front.

Castleford replied when Jy Hitchcox raced over in the corner. Kelly, though, was proving the difference between the teams. He floated an angled kick and Minns jumped and collected with ease before touching down. Cockayne’s third goal was his best so far and the Tigers trailed 26-16.

Rovers turned the screw on the home side with further tries from Thornley, Mitch Allgood and Sio.

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Castleford’s Paul McShane and Shaun Lunt of Hull KR were sin-binned for fighting and both sides put on a team warning for persistent offending. However, it was fitting as impressive Rovers finished as they started, adding three tries in the last six minutes through Sio, Minns and Thornley.

Castleford Tigers: Solomona, Monaghan, Minikin, Webster, Hitchcox, Hampshire, Gale, Lynch, Milner, Jewitt, Millington, McMeeken, Massey. Substitutes: McShane, Patrick, Cook, Moors.

Hull K R: Cockayne, Sio, Minns, Thornley, Wardill, Blair, Kelly, Tilse, Lunt, Mulhern, Clarkson, Horne, Allgood. Substitutes: Boudebza, Donaldson, Green, Walker.

Referee: B Thaler (RFL).