Hull KR 40 Huddersfield Giants 22: Huddersfield thwarted as Dobson inspires Robins victory

Michael Dobson inspired Rovers’ success with five assists and six goals as a run of 24 unanswered points underlined their dominance after falling 18-6 behind.

The Giants had taken a grip on the game with converted tries to Luke George, Scott Grix and Greg Eden in the opening 18 minutes.

Liam Watts had replied for Rovers before they reeled off four unanswered tries either side of half-time. Dave Hodgson got the ball rolling on 35 minutes before Kris Welham, Josh Hodgson and Scott Taylor crashed over in a match-winning burst.

The Giants opened the scoring in the fourth minute through George’s 10th try of a very productive season.

The winger left Lincoln Withers in his wake as he touched down in the left hand corner. Danny Brough made the touchline conversion look easy to give Huddersfield a 6-0 lead.

Eden and Dave Hodgson played pivotal roles in the next try of the game that got Rovers level on the scoreboard. Eden gathered Dobson’s high bomb and in his attempt to avoid conceding a goal line drop out, Dave Hodgson forced the ball loose for Watts to pounce on for an easy score.

Rovers have been bemoaning the lack of luck in their previous games and they will have been grateful for the fortune that accompanied that score.

But they will not have appreciated the blatant forward pass that sent George away in the build-up to Huddersfield’s second try that was finished off by Grix.

Huddersfield capitalised on sloppy defending when Eden got the better of Graeme Horne for the Giants’ third try of the game.

From a penalty won by Welham, Dobson sent a long cut-out pass for returning winger Dave Hodgson to score against his former club. Dobson’s conversion sailed through the uprights and two minutes before the interval, Rovers were level.

Another fine pass from Dobson created confusion in the Giants defence for Welham to score. Dobson’s trusty left boot sent the sides in at the break level at 18-18. Momentum remained with Rovers at the start of the second half when they took the lead.

Once again Dobson was heavily involved as it was his pass on the blind side that sent Josh Hodgson over for his fifth try of the season. Dobson added the extras for a 24-18 lead.

Rovers were in control at both ends of the pitch and their defence to prevent George from scoring was celebrated like a try.

Jordan Cox and Shannon McDonnell pounded the winger into touch. Giants’ loose forward Kevin Brown picked up an injury in the build up and was unable to finish the game.

Rovers extended their lead when Dobson’s fourth assist of the game sent Taylor over for a try, before Shaun Lunt replied for Huddersfield.

Rovers put Huddersfield out of their misery in the 70th minute when Con Mika’s brilliant behind his back pass sent Sam Latus away for the decisive score.

Rovers sealed the win when Mickey Paea took Dobson’s fifth assist of the game over form his side’s seventh try of the game. Dobson’s sixth goal was the final act of the game.

Hull K R: McDonnell, Latus, Welham, Horne, D Hodgson, Murrell, Dobson, Clinton, Withers, Wheeldon, Mika, J Hodgson, Watts. Substitutes: Paea, Taylor, Lovegrove, Cox.

Huddersfield: Eden, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, George, Brough, Grix, Crabtree, Lee, Patrick, Chan, Lawrence, Brown. Substitutes: Fa’alogo, Faiumu, Lunt, Tonks.

Referee: S Ganson (England)