Hull KR 36 Wigan Warriors 42: Late tries deny Rovers as Wigan secure title for Wane

Late tries from Pat Richards and Josh Charnley broke the hearts of the home side as the Warriors secured the League Leaders Shield with the victory.

Defensively Rovers were superb in the first half with tackles being completed to keep Wigan at bay, and the hosts pressurised the Warriors into a series of mistakes.

Brett Finch’s pass confused Gareth Hock but not Craig Hall, who ran the ball home from 80 metres and Michael Dobson added the extras for a 6-0 lead.

Dobson’s penalty in the 11th minute made it 8-0 and then Scott Taylor’s powerful run to the posts and off-load presented Dobson with the opportunity to send Lincoln Withers over for their second try. Dobson’s conversion made it 14-0 after 14 minutes.

Ben Galea marked his final game at MS3 Craven Park with a trademark try, as Hall and Dobson combined to send the captain over after taking the ball at speed and the right angle.

Castleford-bound centre Jake Webster marked his departure with a try four minutes before half-time, scoring under the posts. Dobson’s trusty left boot made it 26-0 to the Robins

But, three minutes before the break, Wigan scored twice as first Brett Finch stretched over near the right-hand corner before Charnley kicked forward for Darrell Goulding to score. Richards converted both and suddenly things were looking a bit better for Wigan as they went in at the interval trailing 26-12.

Rovers extended their lead when Dobson converted Withers’s effort, but Gareth Hock and Richards soon hit back for the visitors.

The hosts made it 36-22 when Louis Sheriff sent Dave Hodgson over in the left-hand corner, but George Carmont’s unconverted try set up a tense finale. Tomkins burst through on the last tackle to send Liam Farrell over under the posts, with Richards’s conversion closing the gap to 36-32.

Richards completed a remarkable comeback with a try down the left wing. His conversion edged Wigan into the lead before Charnley’s late try.

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

Wigan Warriors: S. Tomkins, Charnley, Goulding, Carmont, Richards, Finch, Smith, Lima, McIlorum, Flower, Hansen, Hock, O’Loughlin. Substitutes: Leuluai, Mossop, Farrell, Hughes.

Referee: T Alibert (Toulouse).