Hull KR 26 Castleford Tigers 22: Bulls loss forgotten as Rovers get set for Hull derby

However, though they now have three wins in their last four outings, Craig Sandercock’s side know they will need to take their game to another level to get anything from Good Friday’s derby at fierce rivals Hull FC after a nervy finish here.

Michael Dobson, who many thought would be wrapped up in cotton wool for that looming contest given a nagging hamstring strain, was risked last night and the scrum-half came up with some telling plays along with half-back partner Travis Burns as Rovers ensured struggling Castleford Tigers’ miserable run continues.

They have not tasted victory since defeating champions Leeds Rhinos in only the second week of this season yet – in an entertaining game which ignored the biting conditions in east Hull – came so close to ending that six-game winless run last night.

As long as Rangi Chase is in their side, Castleford always have a chance, and he showed glimpses of brilliance to put the visitors 
16-14 ahead at the interval.

However, it was Craig Hall’s 52nd-minute try that eventually proved the difference, the centre recalled after being left out of the last two games, including that sobering 34-12 defeat at Odsal and it means Castleford still have not won here since a Regal Trophy success in 1993.

Ian Millward had made a string of changes to his Tigers side in an attempt to correct that with full-back Jordan Tansey switching to scrum-half – on attack, at least – Jordan Thompson named as a winger but acting more like a roaming auxiliary forward, and Jamie Ellis dropped to the bench.

However, they were 10-0 down inside as many minutes.

Craig Huby was penalised for not playing the ball, the ‘offence’ which seems to be being intermittently clamped down on by referees in recent weeks, and Hull KR soon benefited.

Jake Webster put a slamming tackle in on Greg Eden to initially deny the Rovers full-back but, in the next tackle, Burns’s grubber fortuitously ricocheted back to him and he darted through a flat-footed defence before stretching over.

Video referee Tim Roby ruled Burns’s one-handed finish was fine to see the Australian stand-off secure his first try since signing from Penrith Panthers and, with Dobson nursing that hamstring, he added his first goal too.

When prop Huby erred again with a similarly harsh high tackle, Rovers, showing a ruthless edge, capitalised once more.

It was Dobson, this time, who dinked a kick in which sat up perfectly for Kris Welham to pounce, the England Knight earning his fourth try of the season.

Burns missed the conversion attempt but Hull KR were afforded plenty of ball as first Michael Shenton dropped one pass and then another sailed into touch.

Welham thought he was heading for a second when he took delivery of Dobson’s high kick but the centre was denied by an alert Kirk Dixon.

After that ponderous first quarter, Castleford suddenly burst into life, Chase typically injecting some flair and dash.

His side-stepping run was only brought to an end by Burns but it did not prevent the visitors from scoring in the next play, Tansey showing great awareness to check his initial thought of passing and, instead, flighting a well-placed kick in behind David Hodgson.

The Rovers winger should still have been able to defuse it, and concede a drop-out, but instead flapped and Dixon made him pay, Roby again making the final decision,

He improved his own score in the 20th minute, but the hosts struck next after Tigers conceded four penalties in quick succession to heap pressure on themselves.

Webster – in fine form against the side he left last winter before departing late with a shoulder injury – was particularly unlucky to be called out for another punishing hit on Jordan Cox.

Regardless, it looked like they might survive, great defence pushing Corey Paterson back over the line after he had surged onto Dobson’s short pass.

However, Dobson, Eden and Welham then combined with slick passing to the left for Hodgson to score and atone for his earlier mistake.

Burns again failed to add the extras but his side remained threatening, Welham breaking clear all too easily and he got on the outside of ex-England centre Shenton, Dobson eventually hauled down by Tansey.

A poor kick option by Burns then let Castleford off the hook and it proved costly as Millward’s side then took firm control as Chase stepped up with two pieces of brilliance to put his side ahead at the break.

Eden, the exciting full-back who has been at the heart of some of Rovers’ best attacking moments this season, was largely at fault in both instances.

First, he ran back Chase’s high kick but lost possession in the tackle on his own 20m line.

From there, in the 33rd minute, Chase arced brilliantly from open to blind behind the ruck, took Tansey’s pass and then popped a lovely delayed pass up for Webster to stroll through untouched from short range.

Dixon improved and, after Eden had spilled a harmless Chase kick downfield, they were over again.

Chase, showing his full range of handling skills, and Webster flicked on for Richie Owen to cross.

Rovers got the all-important score of the first half, though, yet again after a dubious penalty awarded against Castleford.

However, there was no excuse for the poor marker defence when Josh Hodgson squeezed over in the 47th minute, Burns doing the rest, and Tansey, the ex-Hull FC full-back, was similarly at fault when he took a wild swipe in trying to clear Burns’s grubber five minutes later.

It only served to fall loose and bounce up for Hall to crucially score. Burns made it 26-16 but then, after Dixon did brilliantly to get out from his own line, came another Eden error shortly before the hour mark.

The former Huddersfield Giant, who started out at hometown Castleford, strangely let Tansey’s hoisted kick bounce 30m from his own line and Daryl Clark, the elusive Tigers hooker, picked up before highlighting his electric pace to beat the cover.

Dixon’s conversion brought it back to 26-22 but too many errors prevented them clawing further back and they now face a huge derby of their own against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats on Friday.

Hull KR: Eden, Brown, Welham, Hall, D. Hodgson, Burns, Dobson, Paea, J. Hodgson, Tuimavave, Cox, Paterson, Griffin. Substitutes: Carlile, Horne, Mika, Beaumont.

Castleford Tigers: Owen, Thompson, Shenton, Webster, Dixon, Chase, Tansey, Mason, Milner, Huby, Gilmour, Hauraki, Holmes. Substitutes: Ellis, Clark, Millington, Massey.

Referee: J Child (Dewsbury).