Huddersfield Giants 26 Hull KR 44: Dobson on target for Hull KR as Giants’ woes drag on

Scrum-half Michael Dobson also scored two tries, in addition to kicking eight goals for a 24-point haul, as the in-form Robins cantered to a fourth consecutive win while condemning Huddersfield to a fifth successive league defeat.

Huddersfield, who let slip an 18-0 lead to go down 40-22 at Craven Park in March, were boosted by the return of captain Kevin Brown and they led 12-6 thanks largely to significant contributions from their England trio of Danny Brough, Leroy Cudjoe and Eorl Crabtree.

But the Robins were quick to seize on another woeful defensive performance from Nathan Brown’s men and only late tries from Aaron Murphy and Larne Patrick spared them a humiliating scoreline.

Huddersfield had no answer to the kicking of Dobson, who was forced to take even more responsibility in the absence of fellow playmaker Blake Green, and he had a hand in most of his side’s seven tries.

Hodgson opened the scoring on two minutes, taking centre Kris Welham’s pass to touch down straight from a training-ground move after a scrum 10 metres out.

Huddersfield drew level five minutes later when centre Cudjoe collected Brough’s crossfield kick to touch down and they went in front on 23 minutes when England prop Crabtree took Luke Robinson’s pass to plunge over from close range.

Brough added both conversions to put the Giants into a six-point lead but the Robins soaked up further pressure and twice hit their hosts on the counter-attack to open up an 18-12 interval lead. Dobson ran at the Huddersfield defence and Welham got his fingertips to the ball inches from the dead-ball line after two defenders, Tommy Lee and Cudjoe, both failed to deal with Dobson’s grubber kick.

Undaunted, the Giants managed to create further try-scoring opportunities before half-time but they failed to apply the finishing touches, Patrick and Luke George both losing control as they attempted to put the ball over the line.

Hull KR once more demonstrated the sort of clinical finishing their hosts could only dream of when scoring from their first attack of the second half, captain Ben Galea running a superb line from Dobson’s pass to scythe through for his side’s fourth try.

Dobson added the conversion and kicked a second penalty on 52 minutes to put his side three scores ahead before Hodgson crossed for his second try five minutes later to put the result beyond doubt.

Huddersfield pulled a try back through centre Murphy but Dobson forced his way over for his second after Craig Hall had set up the position with a 60-metre run.

With the game opening up in the final quarter, Huddersfield took the opportunity to claim consolation tries through Murphy and Patrick but the visitors had the final say when Hall burst through for his side’s seventh try.

Huddersfield: Eden, George, Cudjoe, Lawrence, Murphy, Brough, Lee, Crabtree, Moore, Fa’alogo, Ferguson, Gilmour, Brown. Substitutes: Robinson, Faiumu, Patrick, Chan.

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

Referee: T Alibert (Toulouse)

St Helens have announced the signing of Hull second row Willie Manu on a two-year contract.

The 32-year-old Tonga international rejected the offer of a new deal from Hull and becomes the first signing for Nathan Brown, who takes over as head coach at St Helens from November.

Hull KR are considering a request from promising forward Liam Watts to be released from his contract.

The 21-year-old loose forward, who is in the England Knights squad preparing for Saturday’s game against Ireland, is under contract to the club until the end of 2013 but wants to leave now.

Hull FC’s hooker Danny Houghton has withdrawn from the England Knights squad for family reasons.