Hull KR 18 Catalan Dragons 20: Hull KR denied as Dobson falls short with the boot

Rovers crossed for four tries to the Dragons’ three, but the game came down to three missed conversions by the usually reliable goal-kicker Michael Dobson as the visitors won 20-18.

But Robinson insisted his side did not feel they got away with a fortunate win. “No, not at all,” Robinson said.

“I thought we deserved to win. I don’t think we got away with anything. We’re through to the next round.

“If we played well, the 20 points we scored in the first half should have been enough.

“I didn’t think of the score at half-time because we were in control of the game. The boys worked hard and fought hard and Hull KR played well.

“I don’t think we got away with the win.”

Rovers coach Craig Sandercock felt his side missed an opportunity to advance to the next round of the Challenge Cup with their spirited second-half performance.

“I’m just dwelling on losing a game of rugby that we really should have won,” Sandercock said.

“It’s not every game you score more tries than your opponent and lose a game. It’s devastating.

“When you score four tries to their three, you expect to win the game.”

It was not the introduction to Challenge Cup rugby that Sandercock would have wanted and he now has to raise his side for the second half of the Super League season.

“When it’s the first game, it doesn’t feel like the Challenge Cup,” he said.

“If we had won and we drew a side not in Super League it would have raised the ante.”

Catalan’s first-half performance turned out to be just enough as they made the most of the strong wind behind them to establish a 20-0 lead at the break, with tries from Leon Pryce (2) and Ian Henderson, all converted by Scott Dureau who also added a penalty

Blake Green was making his first appearance of the season after recovering from a blood clot and he almost marked his return with a try, but Phil Bentham ruled his effort out for a knocking on when Green tried to ground the ball.

Scott Taylor started the fightback for Rovers after a superb run from Rhys Lovegrove, before Green crossed only for Dobson’s conversion to rebound off a post.

Green’s 40/20 provided the platform for Hodgson to score Rovers’ third try, but Dobson again missed his conversion as he did with Latus’s 70th minute effort.

Craig Hall found Dobson who in turn sent Kris Welham away before delivering the scoring pass for Latus in the left-hand corner.

Hull KR: McDonnell, Hall, Welham, Salter, Latus, Green, Dobson, Watts, Withers, Paea, Mika, Horne, Galea. Substitutes: Murrell, Taylor, Lovegrove, J. Hodgson.

Catalan Dragons: Millard, Stacul, Sa, Duport, Cardace, Pryce, Dureau, Simon, Henderson, Casty, Paea, Anderson, Baitieri. Substitutes: Ferriol, Menzies, Pelissier, Fakir.

Referee: P Bentham (Warrington)