Quins maintain hot form

Harlequins continued their march up the engage Super League table with a 40-10 victory at Hull KR on Friday evening.

The Londoners went ahead early on through Chad Randall's try and never looked back, crossing seven times in total at Craven Park against their out-of-form hosts, who have now lost their last three games in all competitions.

Rovers were top of Super League four weeks ago but now trail leaders St Helens by five points.

And although they had a number of regulars unavailable through international duty, injury and suspension, coach Justin Morgan is likely to be concerned about their startling loss of form and momentum.

Quins are now just one point behind in a tie for third place with Leeds Rhinos and Huddersfield Giants after a fifth win in six games, earned without Tony Clubb who is on England duty.

With Shaun Briscoe and Peter Fox also away with the national side and Liam Colbon injured, there was a degree of unfamiliarity about the Rovers backline as teenager James Haynes made his debut on the wing, while stand-off Chaz I'Anson manned the other flank and Daniel Fitzhenry switched from hooker to full-back.

Fitzhenry was at fault for the opening score from Randall - making his 100th appearance for Quins - which set the tone of the whole game.

Out of position

Hopelessly out of position, Fitzhenry's absence under the posts allowed the hooker to breeze through and ground Matt Gafa's neat kick with some ease. Rob Purdham added the extras.

A second try followed five minutes later with a rampaging Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook making up for his unfortunate omission from the England squad by brushing aside Nick Fozzard and scoring a third try in as many games. Danny Orr missed the conversion but added a penalty moments later.

Rovers were unable to get any momentum and were superbly stifled by Harlequins' speed at the play-the-ball area, although they should have scored with their first real attack, with Haynes unfortunate to see Jake Webster's pass to him fly in touch despite the try line beckoning.

Haynes' introduction to Super League did not get any better either, with Will Sharp shaking off his attempted tackle to crown his new one-year deal with a try in the corner.

Veteran Stanley Gene finally got Rovers going with a weaving run that resulted in a try, even if replays did suggest he had failed to ground the ball.

The visitors shrugged off any unhappiness with the decision, though, and scored on the hooter through David Howell's fifth try in six games which came after a neat kick from Luke Gale and approval from video referee Richard Silverwood.

Pressure

Quins started the second half in a similar vein, camping themselves in the Rovers half, although the home side managed to withstand their pressure and reduce the deficit eight minutes in through Scott Wheeldon.

The prop angled his run perfectly to make the best of Ben Fisher's pass and grab a first try of the season, with Michael Dobson's goal cutting Harlequins' lead to 14 points.

The Robins then looked primed for a comeback, but once robbed of Gene's enthusiasm as he went off injured, and void of possession, they found themselves conceding a fifth try as Sharp snatched a second try after a smart short-side move that involved Randall and Luke Williamson.

Fisher and Chris Melling then saw scores chalked off by Silverwood for grounding offences, before Melling and Howell ended proceedings with a pair of breakaway tries.