Hull KR 36 Widness Vikings 0: Sandercock shocked by weather as Hull KR run in six tries

Hull KR coach Craig Sandercock praised his side for producing this defeat of Widnes despite facing some of the worst possible conditions at Craven Park.

Rovers scored six converted tries while keeping the Vikings scoreless for the entire 80 minutes, as rain, snow and heavy wind made life difficult for the players.

Sandercock said both teams deserved credit for putting up with such adverse weather.

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“Those conditions were absolutely horrendous,” said Sandercock.

“They didn’t tell me about those when I was on a beach in Newcastle (Australia). Some of our English players said they were the worst conditions they have ever played in.

“I felt sorry for Shannon McDonnell, who looked like a drowned cat.

“For both teams to put in a fairly decent effort is pleasing.

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“I’m not going to take too much out of this game, but to get the win is very pleasing.”

Sandercock praised his half-back partnership of Michael Dobson and Craig Hall for leading Rovers to their convincing win, with the former slotting all six conversions and the latter scoring two tries.

“I thought Michael was outstanding because he controlled the game from the first minute to the last,” he said.

“That’s what good half-backs do and that’s what Michael did.

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“Craig was very good but he’ll be the first to tell you he has parts he needs to improve. If he can, he’ll turn out to be a great player.”

Widnes coach Denis Betts did not dwell on the defeat, his fifth straight reverse in Super League, instead focusing on the freakishly bad weather.

“The conditions shocked us more than they shocked them,” said Betts.

“It got them on the front foot. Once everyone was cold, they were hanging on for dear life.”

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Despite the margin of victory, and the fact that they kept their opponents off the scoreboard, Sandercock’s men made hard work of it at times as the persistent rain and subsequent mud ruined the game as a spectacle.

Lincoln Withers, Jake Webster, Scott Murrell and Josh Hodgson were the other try scorers.

Hull KR: McDonnell, Hall, Welham, Webster, Latus, Lovegrove, Dobson, Clinton, Withers, Taylor, J. Hodgson, Horne, Watts. Substitutes: Murrell, Netherton, Paea, Cox.

Widnes: Briscoe, Flynn, Marsh, Isa, Ah Van, White, Hanbury, Cross, Clarke, Davies, Winterstein, Allen, Cahill. Substitutes: Finnigan, Pickersgill, Craven, Mullally.

Referee: T Roby (RFL).

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