Hull KR 38-24 Halifax: Tim Sheens' side inch towards safety after three wins from four in Qualifiers
Last Updated: 15/09/18 7:04pm
Craig Hall scored four first-half tries as Hull KR beat Halifax 38-24 for their third win from four games in the Qualifiers to take another step closer towards Super League safety.
The 30-year-old winger was signed from Leigh in July and his finishing masterclass against Championship part-timers Halifax gave him an impressive tally of 11 tries in five games for Tim Sheens' men.
Richard Marshall's visitors, captained by legendary former Rovers stand-off Scott Murrell, proved spirited opponents and claimed second-half scores through James Saltonstall (two), Dan Fleming and Will Sharp but they slipped to a fourth straight defeat.
The hosts led in the ninth minute when Shaun Lunt, Danny McGuire and the impressive Adam Quinlan all combined to send Hall over in the right corner.
Hall could not convert his own try from a difficult angle but a second try arrived soon after when Joel Tomkins' deft offload sent Quinlan scurrying through a gap and the full-back ushered Hall over the line.
A third try came when McGuire's short pass found Quinlan and his bouncing grubber kick was pounced upon by second-rower James Greenwood.
Hall's hat-trick score then arrived in the 18th minute when Quinlan, who looked to support the attack at every opportunity, sent a pass out to his winger on the right-hand touchline. Hall was hit hard by Halifax centre Ben Heaton but was still able to maintain possession and dive over the line.
Slightly dazed by Heaton's challenge, Hall passed kicking duties to Danny Tickle who added the extras while Rovers' Australian winger Justin Carney was forced off with a leg injury moments later.
Carney was replaced by Junior Vaivai but Rovers scored again in the 27th minute when, after Jacob Fairbank conceded a penalty for a high shot on Chris Atkin, Quinlan found Hall to touch down again in the right corner.
Quinlan's assist meant he had a hand in all five of Rovers' first-half tries, while the closest Halifax came to scoring was when second-rower Shane Grady was denied from close range.
A 24-0 interval advantage effectively secured the points for Rovers but Halifax got off the mark in the 44th minute when Saltonstall collected a pass from Heaton to finish off a flowing move in the left corner.
Grady converted as Murrell departed the action, while Quinlan also went off with a knock as the hour mark approached.
Hall kicked a penalty from Hull KR's first points of the second half but Halifax scored again when a searing break from Sharp led to Chester Butler sending Saltonstall in the right corner for his second which Fleming converted.
But after Todd Carney kicked a 40-20, Fairbank lost the ball and scrum-half Atkin pounced for a sixth home try before Lunt got in on the act late on. Halifax claimed late scores from Fleming and Sharp, both of which Fleming converted.
