Hull KR 16 Huddersfield Giants 38: Floodlight failure not the main concern for Rovers

Frantic attempts were made to remedy their floodlight failure on Saturday night after one corner of Craven Park was left in darkness from the 33rd minute.

The game continued until half-time, with Rovers trailing 12-6, before the amused crowd of 7,502 were informed all four stanchions would be switched off and back on again during the break in an effort to restore full capacity.

One bid ended in the negative but after a second, and a 20-minute delay, the match finally resumed although supporters were warned if they failed again it would be abandoned.

Hull KR, who have now won just once in their last six games and face a daunting trip to in-form St Helens on Friday, were caught off-guard as Michael Lawrence took just 96 seconds to score after the re-start, Danny Brough kicking the goal to deliver a 12-point lead Huddersfield never looked like losing.

The influential scrum-half finished with 18 points himself, scoring two tries and five goals to help the Giants move up to second.

Ex-Hull FC star Brough told the Yorkshire Post: “We really thought it was going to be called off at half-time.

“It was tough in the dressing room as you didn’t know if you were in or out – we came out once and had to go back in – and you could have been flat and down.

“But we stood there throwing the ball round and keeping warm. It was a cold night.

“I think one of the teams was going to get a quick try either way once we were back out there as we’d had such a long wait.

“Fortunately we got that. We didn’t really kick on and Rovers kept coming back at us, which we knew they would, but we came away with the win we wanted and scored some points.”

Hull KR gave plenty of effort but their decision-making and execution let them down too often.

Both sides dropped too much ball in the first half – before the lights even went off if any excuses materialise – but it was the visitors who found enough cohesion in the second period to press home, scoring three tries in the final 10 minutes through Scott Grix, Luke Robinson and David Hodgson to give the scoreline a slightly flattering look.

While Rovers clearly missed the creativity, kicking game and organisation of the injured Michael Dobson and drive of Clint Newton, Nathan Brown’s side, with Brough to the fore, the electric hooker Robinson and calming Kevin Brown, always had the tools to find a way through.

The hosts responded when Ben Fisher twisted over from close range but Huddersfield got on top when Brough scored his second try shortly before the hour mark, coming from a wayward kick which took a fortuitous bounce.

“My kicking game was absolutely shocking,” he admitted about the skill which has put him firmly in the frame for an England debut this June.

“I’ll work on that for next week and hopefully get some good out of it. I’m just trying to be consistent for Giants at the moment.

“England is always at the back of my mind as it is a great achievement to get selected.

“If I keep going, hopefully I get the nod and I’ll try my best for them.”

Brown has now featured 27 players in just seven games so far as part of his rotation policy, Jermaine McGillvary, Michael Lawrence, Danny Kirmond, Larne Patrick, Dale Ferguson and Andy Raleigh all getting their opportunity in East Yorkshire after missing out in the loss against Wigan.

Such strength in depth bodes well for the Giants – young winger McGillvary especially was outstanding, quickly scoring his sixth try in as many games in response to Kris Welham’s third-minute opener as well as producing a series of decisive tackles.

The Giants coach concedes he might not actually know his strongest 17 for another couple of weeks.

On Sunday, they entertain Brough’s former club Wakefield Trinity Wildcats – “they’re digging in for John (Kear) there and having a crack” – as they seek to stay in touch with leaders Warrington, but Rovers are well off the pace outside of the top eight.

However, after Welham got a second try to give them a glimmer of hope, Scott Murrell adding a conversion to Craig Hall’s earlier kick, coach Justin Morgan remains upbeat.

“I thought there was a lot of improvement on the last couple of weeks,” he said.

“With 12 or 15 minutes to go I had a good feeling about going on with the game and I don’t think the final score demonstrated the effort and closeness of the game.

“We made some strides forward. The desire was there but defensively we have to make better decisions. You’ve got to give credit to Huddersfield. When they make a line break, they generally capitalise. They’re one of Super League’s form teams.”

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Hull KR: Briscoe; Fox, Welham, Hall, Webster; Green, Murrell; Watts, Hodgson, Clinton, Mason, Galea, Netherton. Substitutes: Lovegrove, Taylor, Latus, Fisher.

Huddersfield Giants: Grix; McGillvary, Cudjoe, Lawrence, Hodgson; Brown, Brough; Crabtree, Faiumu, Mason, Gilmour, Kirmond, O’Donnell. Substitutes: Robinson, Ferguson, Patrick, Raleigh.

Referee: S Ganson (St Helens).