Catalan Dragons 28 Hull KR 30: Dobson sets up tense decider as Rovers face Tigers in play-off race

Rovers saw off a late Catalan fightback to triumph 30-28 and set up a dramatic last-day shoot-out between themselves and the Tigers next weekend.

Morgan said: “It was a great game and exciting stuff out there, lots of tries and lots of mistakes from both teams.

“Conditions were tough out there, it was humid and muggy, but I thought we showed some great guts and determination, especially in that second half.”

Former Catalan man Michael Dobson was the star performer for Rovers, opening the scoring with a solo effort that saw him sneak between two Catalan defenders. He then produced an outstanding pass to Craig Hall who went inside to the supporting Kris Welham, who marked his 100th appearance for the club with his 23rd try of the season.

Asked about Dobson’s contribution, Morgan added: “Dobbo is a top-class player and I think he has really matured over the last three or four seasons and he led us around the park really well.

“I thought some individuals came up with some big plays at big times, Kris Welham with a couple of try savers, Sam Latus came up with some big plays as did Craig Hall.

“In terms of execution it wasn’t great; in terms of guts and determination and spirit it was fantastic.”

Morgan continued: “To come down here and win given their impressive home record is a special effort, they are a very formidable team and especially at their home ground.”

Dragons coach Trent Robinson was disappointed by his side’s slow start, which meant the game was almost beyond them inside the first quarter.

“It was tough out there tonight,” he said. “I thought they were great and they came out with a lot of intensity and that semi-final attitude and they showed us how to play the game today.

“We needed to get into the game early tonight and we did at around 20 minutes, but by that stage we were 14 points down, from then on it was tit for tat.

“We went with them but we just couldn’t get the points in the end.”

Catalan did well to reduce arrears in the first period, but another surge by Rovers brought a try for Sam Latus and a second for Welham as the visitors extended their advantage to 14 points at the interval.

The Dragons were much better in the second period, however, with Daryl Millard crossing for a try before setting up Seb Raguin to do likewise in the corner.

Hall scored off Dobson’s kick to restore Rovers’ eight-point lead, but with nine minutes remaining Millard set up a tense finish as he climbed above Latus to touch down, and the conversion narrowed the gap to two points.

The Dragons threw everything at the Rovers defence but the visitors stood firm, shutting down Freddie Vaccari late on to take the game, but Robinson was at least happy with an improved display after the break.

“I thought we really went after them,” he said. “We probably lacked control out there, sometimes we’d have it, sometimes we’d lose it and we fluctuated.

“For 60 minutes we chased the game.”

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Catalan Dragons: Greenshields, Blanch, Baile, Millard, Vaccari, Menzies, Dureau, Ferriol, Henderson, Casty, Sa, Raguin, Mounis. Substitutes: Fakir, Paea, Baitieri, Pelissier.

Hull KR: Briscoe, Latus, Webster, Welham, Hall, Galea, Dobson, Vella, Hodgson, Watts, Newton, Lovegrove, Taylor. Substitutes: Fisher, Murrell, Wheeldon, Cox.

Referee: J Child (Dewsbury).