TOM’S CRUISE
Johnstone treble seals a stunning return to form for Chester’s men
Wakefield Trinity 54 Hull Kingston Rov 18
CHRIS CHESTER hailed Wakefield’s best half of the season as Tom Johnstone’s hat-trick helped them consolidate their top-eight place.
Just one win from their previous eight games had left Trinity looking over their shoulders rather than trying to emulate last season’s top-four challenge.
But with Jacob Miller pulling all the right strings from stand-off, Chester’s side blew their opponents away with a four-try salvo at the start of the second half.
Chester said: “That was the best 40 minutes we’ve played all season, we’ve just not been able to do it consistently enough.
“I don’t think the scoreline reflected how tough the game actually was – they caused us a hell of a lot of problems in the first half.
“Our ball control won us the game today – I think we went 19 sets from 19 at one point.
“That starved Hull KR of any field position in the defending half and in terms of confidence that will do us the world of good.”
Asked if the performance could spark another push for the top four, Chester added: “We’ve spoken about that and it will be very difficult for us to get into that four.
“Top six is more realistic for where we’re at at the minute.
“We don’t want to be involved in that bottom four – there’s some very good sides coming up.’’
Chester’s side were only 18-12 ahead at the break and Rovers could easily have led themselves after clawing back an early 12-0 deficit.
The excellent Miller created tries for Matty Ashurst and Johnstone, before the visitors hit back through Chris Clarkson and Adam Quinlan.
But Tyler Randell’s soft try from dummy half gave Trinity the initiative back and hinted at the brittle Robins defence of the second half.
Four tries in eight minutes completely took the game away from Rovers, with Scott Grix, twice, Ben Jones Bishop and Johnstone all touching down.
Kieren Moss responded briefly for the visitors before further tries for Anthony England and Johnstone’s third completed the scoring.
Robins coach Tim Sheens said: “You can’t win a football game without the ball and we just didn’t have it in the second half.
“We gifted them so much ball penalty-wise and field position-wise.
“They were far too strong, but it was because they didn’t have to do any defence.”