Hull KR 30 Wakefield Trinity 31: Wakefield stretch winning run as Hull KR succumb

He had done the same the previous weekend to snatch victory over St Helens and so, even when the stand-off somehow sliced a conversion attempt wide to seemingly ruin their chances yesterday, you sensed he would return.

Trinity replacement Kyle Wood had dived on to a loose, ricocheting kick from Tim Smith to level a bizarre game in the 76th minute, leaving Sykes the straight-forward effort.

When it sailed the wrong side of the posts Rovers fans were jubilant but they should know by now such reaction is premature.

For, regardless of Wakefield’s current prowess, their own side have lost several games here by the narrowest of margins, falling by a single point to Leeds Rhinos last time out and seeing both Salford and Catalan scrape victories.

It was no great surprise they found a way to lose another and, with it, knock themselves out of the top eight with just two games to go.

It was Con Mika’s error coming out of his own half that was punished although not before giving Trinity coach Richard Agar a few nervous moments.

Wakefield, who have now delivered five consecutive wins to leave them just a point off the play-off spots, appeared to go too far wide as they pressed towards the posts.

But, with Smith’s guidance, they soon found themselves central again where Sykes’s left boot did the business.

““I’m not sure if we can pull it off again next game,” laughed Agar, after another remarkable finish.

“We always knew we’d get another chance – but at that stage we just didn’t want Hull KR to get it. That was the worry.

“Given our performance in the first half I thought we were very, very lucky to be in that match.

“There’d been a lot of press beforehand and people talking about top eight so maybe it got to them a little as we were way, way off. But we kicked the ball exceptionally well in the second half and improved things.

“I’ll let them talk about play-offs a little now but we still know all we can do is win our last two games and see where it leaves us.”

Wakefield winger Ben Cockayne, making an excellent return to the club that discarded him last summer, had got them off to a perfect start when he supported Ali Lauitiiti’s seventh-minute break.

They nearly scored again through Kyle Amor but after that it was the hosts who took control.

Craig Hall – restored to a more involved stand-off after being wasted at centre the previous week – made one of his long-striding breaks which eventually led to Liam Salter’s first try.

Straight after, Rovers added their second when Michael Dobson lofted a sideways chip to Dave Hodgson on halfway and his winger then dabbed ahead himself for Graeme Horne to touch down.

It came at a cost though, the Rovers centre suffering a fractured cheekbone in collision with Trinity full-back Richard Mathers as he just won the race to the ball.

A succession of uncharacteristic Wakefield errors led to more pressure and Salter exchanged passes with Hall to finish off for his second in the 37th minute. Dobson added his first conversion and that should have seen Rovers 14-4 up at the break.

But after they erred again and then conceded a penalty, some quick-thinking from Cockayne allowed Smith to flight an inch-perfect kick for the unmarked Fox to finish with three seconds left.

There were only a few seconds gone after the interval when Wakefield controversially restored parity.

Dobson allowed Sykes’s kick-off to bobble before Ben Galea eventually fell on it but Silverwood deemed it had been touched by the scrum-half first and awarded a penalty.

There was no excuse for the shoddy defence which allowed Sykes to slip Frankie Mariano through untouched but an incensed Galea was still remonstrating with the official as Sykes lined up the conversion, insisting Dobson had never made contact.

Cockayne added his second and Dean Collis got on the sheet too as Wakefield – forcing a succession of drop-outs as Smith and Sykes found their kicking range – took a firm grip.

However, just after the hour mark, Rovers scored twice in as many minutes through Lincoln Withers and Galea to alter the complexion of the enthralling contest once more.

When Hall’s delightful delayed pass then put Josh Hodgson careering untouched through a hole, the ecstatic hosts had somehow regained the lead.

But Dobson somehow struck a post with the simple conversion attempt – he only managed three from six – to leave Wildcats in touching distance trailing 30-26.

Wood duly scampered over and Sykes, after his first indiscretion, returned to clinch a remarkable success.

Rovers coach Craig Sandercock, whose side have now lost seven from eight, says Horne and Josh Hodgson (broken hand) were both injured in the act of scoring.

He expects the match review panel to rule on those incidents today while Liam Salter also suffered a series shoulder problem to add to their woe.

The Australian added: “The last seven minutes after we scored was everything how not to play rugby league - we just invited Wakefield back in and almost let them have that field goal.

“I’m proud of the players’ efforts to get back in the game though and lead from nowhere but we know our play-off destiny is now out of our hands.”

Hull KR: Sheriff; Latus, Salter, Horne, D Hodgson; Hall, Dobson; O’Hara, J Hodgson, Taylor, Lovegrove, Galea, Griffin. Substitutes: Withers, Netherton, Mika, Paea.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: Mathers; Fox, Collis, L Smith, Cockayne; Sykes, T Smith; Amor, Ellis, Raleigh, Lauitiiti, Kirmond, Washbrook. Substitutes: Wodd, Mariano, Johnson, Wilkes.

Referee: Richard Silverwood (Mirfield).