High-flying Huddersfield suffer defeat after Hull KR fightback

In the previous meeting between the sides 80 points were scored as Huddersfield won at home 50-30 – and last night’s match started in the same fashion with seven tries before the turnaround.

The home side were again without second-row forward Cory Paterson, who completed the final match of his four-game suspension.

Both Brett Ferres and Leroy Cudjoe, named in the England squad to face the Exiles next week, were included by Huddersfield.

A Giants error and back-to-back penalties allowed the home side to get an early score with a swift passing move giving Burns the chance to slice through.

Dobson converted, and three minutes later it was 10-0 with a sublime one-handed offload in the tackle by 20-year-old centre Liam Salter supplying the try for Alex Brown.

Huddersfield remained calm and they hit back in style with four tries in 11 minutes midway through the first half to lead 22-10.

First it was Luke Robinson who supplied Cudjoe’s try with a neat short pass. Then, after a Mickey Paea knock-on from a vicious hit from Ukuma Ta’ai, the Giants scored through Joe Wardle after Aaron Murphy cleverly flicked back Danny Brough’s high kick.

The visitors took the lead when Robinson broke from deep in his own half before the supporting Shaun Lunt collected his pass and ran in for his 13th try of the season.

Then Cudjoe grabbed his second try when he intercepted Dobson’s pass to race 90 metres for an electrifying score.

A penalty allowed Rovers to turn the tide and Graeme Horne crashed over after a short pass from Burns, Dobson converting to reduce the deficit to six points at the break.

Rovers started the second half the stronger and in a six-minute spell halfway through the second period they amassed 18 points to lead 34-22. First, Burns grabbed his second try as he barged over from close range and Dobson’s conversion levelled the game.

Then Burns’s spectacular run and excellent grubber kick to the corner allowed Brown to pounce to give the hosts a six-point advantage with a converted try.

That was extended further when Dobson put Con Mika over from close range to give the home side a 12-point lead.

The Giants threatened to hit back but Ta’ai overhit his kick after breaking. With six minutes to go Murphy crossed from an inch perfect kick by Brough, and the stand-off converted from the sideline to close the gap to six.

But Robinson’s error gave Hull KR position, and Dobson sealed it with the drop-goal.

Hull KR: Eden, Brown, Salter, Hall, D. Hodgson, Burns, Dobson, Paea, J. Hodgson, Walker, Horne, Lovegrove, Mika. Substitutes: Withers, Cox, Netherton, Tuimavave.

Huddersfield: Grix, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, Murphy, Brough, Robinson, Crabtree, Lunt, Kopczak, Ferres, Ta’ai, Lawrence. Substitutes: Faiumu, Ferguson, Mullally, Dwyer.

Referee: P Bentham (Warrington).

London Broncos coach Tony Rea is confident his side can move on from the sudden departure of former Kangaroos half-back Craig Gower.

Gower was this week released from his contract, seven days after stepping down as captain, after an apparent disagreement with Rea.

The post-Gower era starts today with the visit of title-chasing Warrington and Rea says a line has been drawn under the episode.

“It’s about the people who are playing,” Rea said. “Those are the ones that matter and they’re more than capable. Craig decided to leave, it’s not going to affect us.”