Hull KR join Leeds in Challenge Cup final after beating Warrington
Last Updated: 01/08/15 4:45pm
Hull KR will play Leeds in the Challenge Cup final after beating Warrington 26-18 at Headingley on Saturday.
Chris Chester’s men were forced to chase the game early, but stretched comfortably out in front thanks to tries from Josh Mantellato, Ken Sio and Kevin Larroyer, as well as eight points from the boot of man of the match Mantellato.
Warrington scored three tries of their own through Ryan Atkins, Richie Myler and Ben Currie and made it a two-point game in the closing stages, but when the video referee confirmed a Shaun Lunt try with three minutes remaining, the game was over and the Robins had booked a Wembley final.
It was a disastrous start for Hull KR, who failed to collect the kick-off from Warrington and gifted the Wolves the perfect attacking opportunity, which they converted through a great step and line from Atkins, who scored with barely a minute on the board.
Warrington's lack of discipline looked like it was going to cost them a try, but Hull KR twice knocked on with the line begging and the score remained unchanged until the end of the first quarter.
Hull KR then hit back with two tries to steal the lead.
First Albert Kelly held the defence up before releasing the ball to Maurice Blair, who slipped the ball to Kieran Dixon. Dixon's quick hands on the left-hand touchline released Mantellato for his side's first try of the game.
Hull KR were in the lead shortly after through a moment of brilliance from Sio.
Albert Kelly put in a perfectly weighted kick behind Gene Ormsby which the winger struggled to deal with. Sio timed his jump superbly to pluck the ball from the air and run in untouched for his side's second try, which Mantellato converted.
Deliberation
Warrington's ill-discipline finally caught up with them four minutes from the break when Mantellato was given a chance to kick for goal following a penalty nearly in front of the posts. Mantellato made no mistake and gave his side a 12-6 lead at half-time.
Larroyer furthered his side’s lead after the break when he was almost tackled in front of the Warrington line, but managed to stay up long enough to stretch over the whitewash. After much deliberation, the video referee overturned the on-field official’s recommendation and awarded the try.
More indiscipline from the Wolves led to another penalty, which led to another Mantellato two-pointer for a 20-6 lead for Rovers.
Warrington then reduced the deficit through Myler, who twisted through the defence to crash over as the game went into the final quarter and Warrington gained some precious momentum.
That momentum almost led to another try, when Joel Monaghan seemed to have dotted down against the odds in the corner, but the video referee spotted that the ball had left his hand a split second before touching the ground.
In the 66th minute the pressure on Hull KR’s defence led to cracks, and when Myler dummied and held up the defence before popping to Currie on his shoulder for the try, the Hull KR lead was reduced to two points following the Gareth O'Brien conversion.
Attacking opportunities for both sides were squandered by both teams as the game closed out, but it was Hull KR who held out for the win and a trip to Wembley when Shaun Lunt crossed with three minutes remaining for a 26-18 victory.
