Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 10 Hull KR 22: Dobson injury takes shine off Sandercock’s first victory

The Australian, installed at Craven Park after Justin Morgan’s six-year reign ended, suffered a first-round loss to Leeds last week, but picked up Super League points for the first time as his men ran in four tries at Belle Vue.

The long-term effects may be damaging, though, with key scrum-half Michael Dobson having to miss the majority of the game with a shoulder injury.

He was strapped in ice at half-time, watched the second half out of his kit and, with captain Ben Galea and fellow playmaker Blake Green already long-term absentees, Sandercock could do without also losing Dobson.

But despite missing his stand-in captain for over 50 minutes, Sandercock will have been pleased to witness his side having just enough to see off Richard Agar’s Trinity.

Rovers took a 12-10 lead into the interval, although the fact that all four of the first period’s tries came on the back of penalties will not have pleased either coach.

Rovers were the first to capitalise, opening the scoring in the sixth minute when Micky Paea bundled his way over for his first try in the English game.

It took Wakefield some time to form a response but, when it came in the 18th minute, it was an impressive one. Their first penalty gave them possession, Isaac John slipped through a gap and Richie Mathers’s cut-out pass put Ben Cockayne in at the corner.

Unlike Dobson at the other end, John was unable to convert the try and before too long, Dobson was adding the extras to another four-pointer. Con Mika was the scorer on this occasion, diving over after Jake Webster got up the highest to claim Dobson’s chip kick. That was Dobson’s last action as he left soon after and within minutes his side had been pegged back.

Cockayne had a ‘try’ chalked off for a forward pass by Danny Washbrook, but Tim Smith’s reverse pass cut Rovers open and allowed Andy Raleigh to cruise in, with John converting.

Wakefield’s hopes of turning around the two-point deficit improved when Scott Taylor was sin-binned for holding down Cockayne, although they needed nine of his missing minutes to create a chance and, when they did, Frankie Mariano dropped the ball with the line begging.

Their failure to cash in on their numerical advantage would cost them, too, as with 58 minutes gone Josh Hodgson charged through their line for a third try, with Craig Hall missing the goal.

Wakefield scrambled desperately for a response, but their hopes were ended when Rhys Lovegrove reached out for the line with nine minutes remaining.

Wakefield: Mathers, Fox, Collis, Mellars, Cockayne, John, Smith, Wilkes, Aiton, Southern, Kirmond, Lauitiiti, Washbrook. Substitutes: Wood, Raleigh, Johnson, Mariano.

Hull KR: McDonnell, Hall, Welham, Webster, D. Hodgson, Murrell, Dobson, Clinton, Withers, Paea, Horne, Mika, Lovegrove. Substitutes: J. Hodgson, Cox, Taylor, Wheeldon.

Referee: R Hicks (Oldham).