Crusaders book play-off date

Crusaders confirmed their place in the Super League play-offs for the first time with a 30-24 victory over Hull KR.

Brian Noble's men face a trip to Huddersfield next week after overcoming a Rovers side boosted before kick-off by the signing of Australian international Willie Mason for next season.

The visitors welcomed back Kris Welham after a two month absence while Ben Galea also returned to action following an eye problem.

But the Welsh side had the better of the first half after Ryan O'Hara had broken the deadlock after just five minutes, dashing through a half-gap to convert heavy early pressure.

Full back Clinton Schifcofske converted but, on 10 minutes, he missed a high up-and-under on sixth tackle for Rovers to retain, put wing Peter Fox in at the corner and Michael Dobson landing a touchline conversion.

However, Crusaders were enjoying the bulk of possession and it told when a cross-field kick on sixth tackle by lively scrum-half Jarrod Sammut saw Luke Dyer climb high, throw a speculative pass to the right wing and centre Tony Martin nabbed the try that Schifcofske converted.

The half was marred, though, by a big fight involving both sets of players after an off-the-ball incident which saw Peter Lupton, of the Crusaders, and Ben Cockayne, from Rovers, warned by referee Robert Hicks.

The second-half was just as intense and exploded as Rovers took the lead with two tries in four minutes when full-back Shaun Briscoe and Kris Welham, both converted by Dobson, that took them into an 18-12 lead.

But, by 53 minutes, the Crusaders restored their six-point advantage when Rhys Hanbury went over on the left before an astonishing sprint by Sammut, who intercepted an attack on his own line and run 100 yards for the try.

Rovers hit back again when Galea drove over from a couple of yards and Dobson's fourth conversion levelled the match.

With eight minutes left, Schifcofske booted a 25 yard penalty to give Crusaders a 26-24 lead and a final try for Crusaders by Luke Dyer secured their historic play-off place.