Hull KR 34-12 Halifax: Hat-trick hero Mantellato stars for Rovers

Josh Mantellato was the hat-trick hero for Rovers

Australian points machine Josh Mantellato scored a hat-trick as Hull KR beat Halifax 34-12 to make it back-to-back wins at the start of the Qualifiers.

Mantellato joined Rovers from NRL club Newcastle Knights in the off-season and has turned out to be one of the signings of the season, with his 22 points settling a scrappy contest at the KC Lightstream Stadium on Sunday.

It was Hull KR's first home game since they booked their place in the Challenge Cup final but they produced a flat performance against the side that finished fourth in the Championship.

It looked like it would be a routine afternoon for Rovers when Mantellato and Tyrone McCarthy crossed early on but errors crept in after Dane Manning's converted try got Halifax on the board.

Mantellato went over on the stroke of half-time and then added his 23rd try of the season in the early of the stages of the second half to put clear daylight between the sides.

Halifax crossed through Steve Tyrer but the result was never in doubt and Mantellato finished with five goals after adding the extras to tries from Ken Sio and Kris Welham.

Halifax kept Widnes scoreless in the first half last week but their defence was breached by Rovers after only four minutes, Mantellato touching down in the corner after a well-worked set play from a tap penalty close to the line.

The visitors were opened up too easily again as McCarthy rounded Ben Johnston to score after good footwork by Dane Chisholm created the space for his team-mate to charge through.

But Fax had a lifeline and their first try of the Qualifiers when a smart cross-field kick from Scott Murrell, returning to the club where he spent seven seasons, forced Sio into an error and Manning touched down.

Halifax visibly grew in confidence after reducing the deficit to four points, but they were guilty of overplaying at times and conceded a crucial try on the stroke of half-time as Ben Cockayne's cut-out pass gave Mantellato an easy finish.

Mantellato landed his second conversion of the afternoon from out wide to make it 16-6 and continued to hog the limelight after the restart, diving over in the corner to complete his hat-trick following good hands by Rovers.

The winger again goaled from the touchline to leave Halifax with a mountain to climb, but the underdogs kept going and scored a deserved second try when Tyrer darted over after taking Johnston's neat offload.

A tough weekend for the Championship clubs against Super League clubs was complete, though, when Sio touched down from Chisholm's neat kick and Welham backed up a break to score under the sticks on the final hooter.