Hull KR 18-20 Leeds: Rhinos record comeback victory over Rovers
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 29/04/18 6:41pm
Leeds climbed to fifth in the Betfred Super League after coming from 8-0 down to beat Hull KR 20-18 at KCOM Craven Park.
Rovers dominated the first quarter of the game, but were guilty of not turning good territory and possession into points, especially towards the end of the game.
Playing with a strong wind in their favour, Rovers started brightly to take a ninth-minute lead through Ryan Shaw's penalty as Danny McGuire was held on the ground longer than referee Scott Mikalauskas was happy with by Richie Myler.
McGuire was one of four former Leeds players in the Rovers side and it was another who scored the first try of the game. Rob Mulhern powered his way over the line after McGuire's successful 40/20. Shaw converted for an 8-0 lead after 12 minutes.
After absorbing plenty of pressure from the home side in the first quarter of the game, Joel Moon halved the deficit with a solo effort breaking through a couple of Rovers tackles to score. Kallum Watkins converted to make it 8-6 to the Robins.
The score settled the Leeds and six minutes later they were celebrating their second try of the game when Jamie Jones-Buchanan broke through to score under the posts, making Watkins' conversion a formality to give the Rhinos a 12-8 lead. It was the 36-year-old's second try of the season.
Back came Rovers with a close-range try from prop Mose Masoe bursting through a gap to get Rovers back on level terms. Shaw's conversion edged the home side in front 14-12.
Shaw's goalkicking has been one of the positives for Rovers this season and he was on target, adding a penalty to Rovers' total in the 34th minute to extend their lead to 16-12 after Adam Cuthbertson tried to slow Rovers' attack.
Carl Ablett was the next Leeds player to be penalised trying to prevent Rovers from playing the ball quickly. Shaw made the half-time score 18-12 with his fifth successful kick of the game.
Three minutes into the second half, Rovers were reduced to 12 men with Masoe sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Ashton Golding.
Leeds capitalised on their numerical advantage when Ryan Hall went over in the left-hand corner. Watkins silenced the jeers from the east stand behind him to level the scores at 18-18.
The lead changed hands for the fourth and final time when Watkins added a penalty to make it 20-18 after Danny Tickle was penalised for preventing Matt Parcell from playing the ball quickly.
Despite forcing three successive goal line drop outs late on, Rovers failed to score the try that would have won them the game.
