Wooden spoon is beckoning for a woeful Rovers
BOOT INTO KR WITH A TRY HAT-TRICK
Tries: Gigot, Lyne (2), Jones-bishop (3), Tangata, Hampshire, Battye; Goals: Hampshire 6
Hull KR slumped to a 48-18 defeat to Wakefield Trinity after a dismal showing. Rovers won the round one meeting between the sides but had no answer to Trinity at Belle Vue.
Analysis
Hull KR returned to the scene of their first game of 2020 and while the world around them has changed dramatically, performances on the field have been frustratingly familiar.
On that chilly January afternoon, Rovers never recovered after seeing Mose Masoe suffer a life-changing injury in the opening minutes and Wakefield went on to record a comfortable win in the pre-season friendly.
Thankfully y the 31-year-old y is back on his feet but KR have not made the same kind of progress.
The Robins went into yesterday’s Super League clash level on points with Chris Chester’s side at the bottom and in real danger of finishing the season with the wooden spoon.
Trinity’s Adam Tangata celebrates scoring a try
Ben Jones-bishop adds his third try
HULL KR Tries: Abdull, Ellis, Crooks; Goals: Eilis 3
By half-time, Super League could have wrapped it up and addressed it to Craven Park.
For the sixth time in seven matches, Rovers had lost a game in the first half after being outenthused by the opposition.
Wakefield had the shorter turnaround after seeing off Huddersfield Giants late on Thursday night but they started with more energy and got their reward in the 13th minute through Tony Gigot after a one-two with Matty Ashurst.
Rovers didn’t have to wait long for their second try y and it was a fine team t effort, albeit aided by soft defence. d
KR were left grabbing at shirts as Trinity moved the ball from right to left and back again before Reece L Lyne touched down out wide.
Wakefield were dominating field position and Lyne made it a quickfire double after finding another h hole in the Rovers defence.
Worse was to come for the Robins, Ben Jones-bishop going over from a cut-out pass by Max Jowitt before rounding off a 90-metre break after a loose pass by Jamie Ellis on the stroke of half-time.
Rovers looked shot at 26-0 but, as they so often do, came out firing after the break.
Jordan Abdull went over after a nice one-two with Ben Crooks, only for Jones-bishop to respond with his third try as Wakefield ripped apart KR’S left edge yet again.
Ellis benefited from a slice of f fortune to finish his own kick and Rovers were back within 12 of their hosts when the half-back converted Crooks’ spectacular effort from the touchline.
But Crooks knocked on from the restart and Wakefield sealed the win through Adam Tangata after referee Scott Mikalauskas failed to spot a blatant knock-on.
Wakefield ended the game as they started it, with Kelepi Tanginoa gifting Hampshire a try when he could have scored himself underlining where Rovers are at the moment.
There was still time for
Hampshire to chip over, recollect and put Battye over to round off an emphatic win for Trinity that leaves KR rock bottom of Super League.
Key moment
Wakefield started well and had the game in the bag long before Jones-bishop went over just before half-time. Teams know if they score first, Rovers will fold.
Good day – Wakefield
Trinity started the week denying talk of dressing room unrest but end it with two big wins that leave them well placed to avoid the wooden spoon.
Bad day – Hull KR
Rovers produced a shambolic performance at Belle Vue and left most fans wishing the season was already over.
They somehow need to pick themselves up and find a way of avoiding finishing last.
The bigger picture
KR have another short turnaround before their third game e in eight days. It is no ordinary game e either, with bitter rivals Hull FC lying in wait. The Black and Whites are well rested and will be huge favourites to claim a comfortable win at the Totally Wicked Stadium.