ROVERS BOSS SMITH WON’T PANIC
8 Catalans 20
TWO spectacular tries from Tom Davies and Fouad Yaha condemned Rovers to a fourth successive defeat.
But Hull KR boss Tony Smith insists his team will bounce back, even though they have scored only two tries in those four losses.
He said: “I thought we turned a corner a bit.
“There was a bit more energy at times that we needed. We are trying our best and all hurt together and work hard together. We are going through a bit of a tough time but I saw signs of things turning.”
Rovers shocked secondplaced Catalans by racing into an 8-0 lead with a Ben Crooks try and two
Lachlan Coote goals.
But they wasted several more chances to build on that lead and the Dragons were never going to let that gift go begging. Davies scored an acrobatic try to leave them 8-4 down at half time and then Mathieu
Laguerre intercepted an attack and raced the length of the field to give them the lead.
Yaha made Rovers pay again for their missed chances, with an even more spectacular diving effort than Davies had produced.
Arthur Mourgue added two conversions and kicked two penalties to make it five wins from the last six for the French side.
Coach Steve McNamara said: “The 12.30pm kick-off meant a change to our usual schedule and I don’t think we dealt with it great.
“We were sluggish. But if you can defend your try line well, even when you’re not playing great, then it gives you a chance to win.”
Injury-hit Rovers lost three players to head injuries, and Smith added: “Catalans are a big team so you need all your troops. But the effort was great by all my boys.”