VIDEO - Hull KR 34 Halifax 12: Chester warns Hull KR Cup final places are up for grabs after win

For periods yesterday, though, it seemed the Challenge Cup finalists were giving part-timers Halifax far too little of that as they endeavoured to make life hard for themselves in this Qualifiers tie.

Chris Chester’s team should have known how gritty their West Yorkshire visitors would be given they were made to work hard at Championship leaders Leigh the previous week before eventually emerging with two points.

But Rovers were profligate and sloppy too often yesterday and, therefore, eventually needed Josh Mantellato’s hat-trick try in the second half to finally put Halifax away, the Italy winger now having amassed 23 tries in his prolific debut season since moving from Newcastle Knights.

He also passed the 100 goals mark with his five kicks but Rovers still only led 22-12 against the part-timers heading into the final five minutes.

Asked if he believed his side thought it would be easier than it was, Chester, who rested full-back Kieran Dixon and back-row James Donaldson, admitted: “That’s certainly what I’m thinking after the game.

“I was very disappointed with some of the efforts defensively and we made far too many errors.

“We got our just desserts. Halifax played well, kicked well and were more aggressive than us.

“They made us look silly at times. When they got some repeat sets 10 minutes into that second half I was worried about the scoreline.

“Josh (Mantellato) played well but was probably one of only two or three who come out of that with any credit.

“The plan was to wrap some players in cotton wool at Widnes next week but I might have to change that.

“Some performances weren’t acceptable. There’s a big carrot in two weeks’ time with the Challenge Cup final and there’s lots of spaces up for grabs.

“I wouldn’t say they’ve played their way out of contention but they might get an opportunity to put a few wrongs right instead of a rest.”

It had taken Super League Widnes fully 48 minutes to break down resilient Halifax a week earlier on the way to a 14-0 win but they were undone after just four yesterday when Mantellato scored the first of his treble.

When Hull KR captain Tyrone McCarthy eased his way through some weak defence for Mantellato to convert and make it 10-0 after just 11 minutes, there was understandable fears this could be a long afternoon for Richard Marshall’s side.

However, through a mixture of their own improved play and Rovers’ shoddy finishing, they grew into the game and gave a better account of themselves.

After Shaun Lunt’s break amounted to nothing, Hull KR centre Liam Salter throwing a pass into touch, Halifax responded with a well-crafted try of their own on 21 minutes.

Full-back Ben Johnston, so effervescent against Widnes, demonstrated his ingenuity once more with a fine kick return and slip pass for winger James Saltonstall to set up position.

Scott Murrell, the scheming stand-off who spent seven years at Craven Park, almost sent Ed Barber over with another well-timed pass but was not denied when his high kick was left unguarded by the hosts and Dane Manning pounced, Steve Tyrer improving.

Ben Cockayme surged clear after more good work from Mantellato but there was no finish again and James Green also made a barrelling run to undo the Halifax defence but Graeme Horne spilled the prop’s pass with the line begging.

The visitors looked threatening when they remained composed, slick handling almost seeing Saltonstall squeeze over in the corner, and their confidence lifted further when Gareth Potts tackled Mantellato into touch after the Italy winger dared to take him on on the outside.

Yet, maddeningly, his side then threw a forward pass direct from the resulting scrum.

It mattered little; Kris Welham’s wretched pass to Mantellato was even worse when the England Knights centre could easily have scored himself.

Rovers replacement James Greenwood coughed up another pass trying to barge over and, eventually, Chester’s side needed the help of some contentious refereeing decisions to gain position for Mantellato to add his second from Cockayne’s long pass three minutes before the break.

He converted for a 16-6 interval lead and then crept over for his treble in the 51st minute, again improving from out wide.

They had ample more pressure but did little with it, Halifax dug in and then enjoyed their own improvements.

Adam Tangata knocking on from a hard-earned drop-out was the sort of maddeningly frustrating aspect of their own play, however, if Marshall’s side had more patience, they could have pushed both Widnes and Rovers much closer.

They were rewarded when Manning’s smart offload led to Tyrer’s 67th-minute try that the centre converted himself for 
22-12.

Manning broke clear soon after but, crucially, Murrell could not hold onto the pass when his side had numbers swarming through.

Instead, Rovers winger Ken Sio latched onto to a kick with his 19th try of the year, Mantellato typically adding the two points from wide out once more, and he converted again when Welham rounded things off after the hooter.

Hull KR: Cockayne; Sio, Salter, Welham, Mantellato; Chisholm, Blair; Walker, Lunt, Puletua, Larroyer, Horne, McCarthy. Substitutes: Burke, Allgood, Greenwood, Green.

Halifax: Johnston; Potts, Heaton, Tyrer, Saltonstall; Robinson, Murrell; Cahalane, Kaye, Tangata, Manning, Barber, Fairbank. Substitutes: Moore, Bracek, Ambler, 
Maneely.

Referee: R Hicks (Oldham)