Hull KR 10 Leeds Rhinos 44: McDermott looking for more from his Rhinos despite win

The Rhinos, with two games in hand, remain four points adrift of the Warriors, turning the screw on their hosts in the final 10 minutes of the first half when they held a slender 10-6 lead.

Ryan Hall opened the scoring in the sixth minute after Rovers loanee Luke George spilled the ball 10 metres from his own line. Leeds were in no mood to squander the opportunity for points as Zak Hardaker sent Hall over in the left-hand corner. Kevin Sinfield missed the conversion, but the defending champions led 4-0.

Michael Dobson created an opening for Cory Paterson to charge his way over the line to level the score at 4-4 and Dobson’s conversion edged Rovers ahead.

Leeds missed a glorious opportunity to regain their lead in the 25th minute when they gathered a short Paterson goalline drop-out, Joel Moon’s error letting the Robins off the hook.

After 29 minutes of nip-and-tuck rugby, Leeds showed they too could score after being given successive penalties. Danny McGuire’s initial kick was blocked and bounced back into his hands and before Rovers could regroup, he had sent Brett Delaney over close to the posts.

Sinfield made no mistake with his second conversion to give the Rhinos a 10-6 lead.

Rugby league’s Golden Boot winner was successful again, converting Hardaker’s try in the 35th minute which was brilliantly set up for him by Rob Burrow’s clever kick that left Rovers’ defence standing still.

Sinfield smashed his fourth conversion attempt off the left-hand upright after Mitch Achurch’s try from close range after being sent over by Paul McShane.

A Rhys Lovegrove error 13 metres from the Rhinos line ended a promising Hull attack prematurely and it proved to be a costly missed opportunity.

Two minutes later Moon teased the Rovers defence with a couple of show-and-gos on his way over the line from 40 metres out. Sinfield converted to give the Rhinos a 26-6 lead.

It was the only score in the first 30 minutes of the second half as errors crept into both attacks to keep the score unchanged until Kallum Watkins scored Leeds’ sixth try of the afternoon.

Carl Ablett did the hard work to send his winger away for the score and Sinfield added the extras to make it 32-6.

Sinfield was pulling the strings for the Rhinos and his 40/20 created his side’s seventh try in the 74th minute.

Ian Kirke found a way over the line to add to the home side’s misery. Trailing 38-6 with time running out, Rovers reached double figures in the 77th minute when Greg Eden’s kick was grounded by Omari Caro, but it was far too little too late.

Dobson missed the conversion before Watkins burst through the KR defence to score the final try of the game from 65 metres. Sinfield’s sixth conversion left the final score 44-10.

Despite the hefty win, Leeds coach Brian McDermott claimed his side still have plenty of room for improvement.

“I wouldn’t say we are in form,” he said. “Results might suggest that, but I don’t think we are where we need to be.

“We defended really well but we have to be better.

“I’m not going to say there is more to come, but we have to be better.

“There are better teams than us with the ball at the moment and we have to change that.

“This was tougher than the scoreboard suggests. Physically, that was a tough game.”

McDermott paid tribute to Rovers for making life hard for them, with Dobson and Burns pulling the strings for the hosts.

“We played against a strong wind in the first half,” he said.

“Hull KR had enough pressure on our try-line to make it difficult for us.

“We came up with some try-saving periods, which was pleasing.

“The points weren’t easily gained over the course of 80 minutes because Hull KR had a fair dig.”

McDermott singled out his pack for credit after they provided the platform for the victory.

“I don’t really mind if some of the outside backs hear this, but our forwards have fronted up since we kicked off the season,” he said. “I feel we had one or two errors – too many offensively when we should have been more clinical. That’s down to the decision-making from our halves and outside-backs and that makes it tough.”

Rovers coach Craig Sandercock admitted his team’s play-the-ball speed was not what he would have wanted.

“The play-the-ball speed was ridiculously slow and we couldn’t get a quick one,” he said.

“Leeds’ lines were set and their line speed was unbelievable, and full credit to them.

“The score didn’t reflect how hard we played and how competitive we were. But that’s rugby league.

“Leeds have some class players and they can hurt you at any time of the game.

“We are disappointed because we came here thinking we could win.

“When things go against us and we are under the pump, we need to react a little better.

“If we can do that, we can hopefully make it through the other side.”

Hull Kingston Rovers: Eden, Caro, Salter, George, D. Hodgson, Burns, Dobson, Paea, J. Hodgson, Walker, Lovegrove, Paterson, Griffin. Substitutes: Withers, Mika, Beaumont, Green.

Leeds Rhinos: Hardaker, Watkins, Ablett, Moon, Hall, McGuire, Sinfield, Leuluai, Burrow, Peacock, Ward, Delaney, Jones-Buchanan. Substitutes: McShane, Kirke, Achurch, Clarkson.

Referee: R Hicks (RFL)