Hull KR 31-12 Widnes: Second-half surge defeats Vikings

Justin Carney who crossed for one of Hull KR's five tries

Hull KR scored five tries in their 31-12 victory over the Widnes Vikings in a one-sided affair at KCOM Craven Park.

Both sides were trying to put disappointing win-less Easters behind them and it was Widnes who scored first.

Chris Houston slipped through a tackle to make good ground before passing to Joe Mellor who was tackled high 25 metres from Rovers' line. Ed Chamberlain converted the penalty to give the Vikings a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes of scrappy play.

The first try came in the 29th minute. Danny McGuire's high kick was gathered by Justin Carney who managed to ground the ball despite the attentions of three Widnes' defenders. Ryan Shaw missed the conversion.

But Shaw made amends four minutes later, turning Andrew Heffernan's try into six points after the centre exploited a gap on the left-hand side of the Vikings' defence.

Widnes' hopes were not helped with injuries to three players in the first-half. Keanan Brand was carried off in the ninth minute, Danny Craven in the 28th and Wellington Albert in the 34th with head knocks.

Despite the disruptions to their personnel, Widnes finished the first-half strongly forcing repeat sets, but they found Rovers in stoic mood.

Leading 10-2, Rovers found themselves down to 12 men following Chris Clarkson's yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Rhys Hanbury.

Hull's Chris Clarkson who was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle on Rhys Hanbury

From the resulting penalty, Widnes moved the ball downfield and switched play to the right for Ryan Ince to score in the right-hand corner. Chamberlain's missed conversion left the Vikings trailing 10-6.

On their next set, the Vikings regained the lead. Mellor made the most of Clarkson's absence in Rovers' defensive line to score and Chamberlain's conversion edged Widnes 12-10 ahead.

Widnes suffered more injury woes when Gil Dudson had to be helped off the pitch, leaving the visitors with no fit interchanges for the remaining 29 minutes.

And the two-point lead they were holding onto disappeared when Shaw kicked his second goal of the game to make it 12-12.

As Widnes battled fatigue, Rovers showed no mercy, turning a penalty into six points. Danny Tickle scored against his former club which was converted by Shaw to give Rovers an 18-12 lead.

McGuire, back after missing Hull KR's Easter defeats to Hull and Wigan, dropped a goal 11 minutes from time to give the home side a seven-point cushion.

Then James Greenwood made sure of victory by taking McGuire's across the line from close range. Shaw's conversion made it 25-12.

In the final minute, Carney rounded off the scoring after Maurice Blair's 40-metre break. Shaw's conversion sealed Rovers' 31-12 win.