JY’S JOYRIDE IS CUT SHORT

Four-try Hitch fails to kill off never-say-die Rovers

JY HITCHCOX scored four tries but was undone by Junior Vaivai’s double as Hull KR snatched a thrilling comeback point.

And Rovers could have returned to Humberside with an unlikely win on new-boy Joel Tomkins’ debut.

After battling back from 24-12 down with two converted tries, half-back Chris Atkin dragged two easy, short-range drop goal attempts wide of the uprights.

Jake Trueman also missed a single pointer for Tigers who, through Calum Turner and Paul Mcshane, failed with three of their six shots at goal.

“I wanted to win the game but in the last five minutes if you had given me a point I would have taken it,” said Cas boss Daryl Powell.

“I am disappointed we didn’t win but we had no substitutes left. We had players who were having to stay on. So, it was a gutsy effort, but we had no rotation at all.”

Mike Mcmeeken (hamstring), Adam Milner (back), Joe Wardle (shoulder) and Jesse Sene-lefao (ankle) all failed to finish the game.

And despite his try-scoring exploits

Hitchcox will not be at Cas next season and is expected to join Bradford.

“Jy knows he won’t be with us next year,” confirmed Powell. “But he has done a phenomenal job for us with Greg Eden being out for a significant amount of time.”

Robins chief Tim Sheens admitted: “It is a good point given the way we started, the amount of ball we gave up and the amount of field position we gave up.”

Sheens, whose side also trailed 14-0 with Hitchcox, twice, and Mcmeeken touching down for Castleford, added: “So, not to get beat by 60 we were lucky in that regard.

“But we kept within range at half-time which was the main thing.

“It could have gone either way at the end but that’s as good as a win when you are away.” On Tomkins’ debut, Sheens said: “I was happy with Joel today. I thought he did some nice things and just did his job.”

Vaivai’s try before the break gave Rovers hope with full-back Adam Quinlan then touching down within 30 seconds of the restart.

Hitchcox then struck twice more after 45 and 66 minutes with Turner landing a penalty to make it 24-12.

However, Rovers, who remain in the bottom four, fought back again through Vaivai (above) and Mose Masoe’s pushover, both goaled by Ryan Shaw who finished with four from four.