Second-half collapse to Dragons proves costly for Hull KR

With the sides level at the break 12-12, Trent Robinson’s side dominated the second period to score four tries and send the home side to their second successive defeat.

Blake Green opened the scoring in the eighth minute backing himself to score from 10 metres out. Craig Hall converted. Having been guilty of starting slowly in recent games, the try was deserved for Rovers’ early dominance.

Catalan responded by marching to within 10 metres of Rovers’ try line, but an error by Millard led to Green zig-zagging 90 metres to extend his side’s lead. Hall made it 12-0.

Catalan forced back-to-back goal-line drop-outs and from the second, Gregory Mounis was allowed the freedom of Craven Park to stroll through the defence to score. Scott Dureau converted.

Catalan came into this game with twice as many errors as points and those mistakes continued to riddle their game.

But Rovers were unable to capitalise on them, coughing the ball up in good attacking positions several times and conceding penalties at crucial times. None was bigger than when Green vented his frustration at referee James Child 10 metres from the Dragons line on the first tackle.

A try then could have killed off a Catalan team whose confidence would have been low entering this game with successive defeats. Instead, they went in at half-time all square at 12-12 thanks to Setaimata Sa’s try in the 38th minute.

The Dragons took a lead for the first this season when Damien Blanch danced his way down the right wing past full-back Shaun Briscoe to score in the corner. Dureau missed the goal.

Rovers responded with a try that looked to have been practised on the training pitch with Blake Green sending Shaun Briscoe over for his second try of the season.

Hall’s conversion edged Rovers in front 18-16 but after a sustained period of pressure on the Rovers line, Sebastien Raguin put Catalan 20-18 in front, though Dureau missed his second kick of the game.

With 13 minutes remaining Steve Menzies extended Catalan’s lead by brilliantly grounding Dureau’s kick just as it hit the ground.

Dureau’s third missed goal meant Rovers needed a converted try to draw level.

The closest they came to getting it was when Kris Welham was tackled into touch going for the line in the 71st minute. Blanch’s second try of the game with five minutes remaining and Dureau’s goal sealed Catalan’s first win of the season.

Dureau’s drop goal was then icing on the cake for the Dragons.

Hull KR: Briscoe, Fox, Welham, Hall, Colbon, Green, Murrell, Vella, Hodgson, Clinton, Newton, Galea, Netherton. Substitutes: Wheeldon, Taylor, Cockayne, Watts.

Catalan Dragons: Farrar, Blanch, Sa, Millard, Stacul, Gigot, Dureau, Ferriol, Henderson, Casty, Menzies, Raguin, Mounis. Substitutes: Fakir, Paea, Baitieri, Pelissier.

Referee: J Child (England).