Dobson’s late drop-goal confirms another Hull KR rally

A week after coming from 14 points down to beat Hull FC at the Magic Weekend, the Robins rallied from 22-6 behind to seal their third successive win in dramatic fashion.

Dobson was the hero as he has been so often for Rovers, who were dealt a blow when Blake Green pulled up in the final moments of a training session with a hamstring injury. His place at stand-off went to Craig Hall.

Warrington welcomed back four players including internationals Brett Hodgson, Ben Westwood and Chris Bridge as Tony Smith’s side looked to close the gap on leaders Wigan.

Gareth O’Brien opened the scoring with a try from a Rovers error. Con Mika juggled a pass enough for O’Brien to scoop the ball up and score from 60 metres. Brett Hodgson added the extras.

Rovers had already been served a warning, with Westwood knocking on when it seemed easier to ground Lee Briers’s kick through.

The second-row made amends when he grounded an identical kick from Briers. Hodgson’s conversion opened up a 12-0 lead.

Rovers thought Chris Riley knocked the ball forward on a subsequent attack but referee Robert Hicks disagreed, allowing the winger to romp home from 80 metres.

Hodgson landed his third conversion for an 18-0 lead, although the hosts went close when Rhys Lovegrove spilled Josh Hodgson’s pass forward two metres from the Warrington line.

Following a penalty conceded by Chris Hill, Josh Hodgson then showed Lovegrove how to score by scooting over between the posts from dummy-half. Dobson converted to make it 18-6.

Rovers leaked a fourth try moments before half-time. Michael Dobson’s kick under pressure gifted Warrington easy possession deep in their own half, with the Rovers defence out of position.

Within seconds Riley was celebrating his second try of the game, but Brett Hodgson missed the conversion.

Home captain Ben Galea, who inspired the comeback against Hull, had words with his players before they went in at half-time.

Rovers began the second half strongly, but Rovers were their own worst enemies with Graeme Horne dropping a pass that would have led to a try.

Handling errors from Warrington did their bit to give Rovers as many chances as they could. Chris Hill’s error was punished when Lincoln Withers sent Michael Dobson over from close range. Dobson’s conversion made it 22-12 with half an hour to play.

From their next set, Horne made amends for his previous error by breaking through a tackle to send winger Sam Latus in. Dobson missed the conversion but Rovers were back in it, trailing 22-16.

Rovers drew level in the 68th minute when Hall backed himself to score, even though he was faced with three Wolves defenders. The stand-in stand-off touched down between the posts to make the conversion a formality for Dobson, who kicked Rovers level at 22-22 with 11 minutes to play.

It was down to Briers and Dobson as to whose drop-goal technique would seal the points.

Dobson prevailed on home soil with an angled effort from 20 metres out.

Briers had a chance to level the score, but his drop-goal attempt with time running out drifted wide to the left of the posts.

Hull KR: McDonnell, Latus, Welham, Horne, D. Hodgson, Hall, Dobson, Paea, J. Hodgson, Taylor, Mika, Galea, Lovegrove. Substitutes: Murrell, Withers, O’Hara, Clinton.

Warrington Wolves: Hodgson, Riley, Atkins, Blythe, J. Monaghan, Briers, O’Brien, Morley, Grix, Carvell, Waterhouse, Westwood, Harrison. Substitutes: C. Bridge, Higham, Ratchford, Hill.

Referee: R Hicks (Oldham).