Stylish Rovers run riot

A 22-point haul from Michael Dobson helped Hull KR to a 42-6 thrashing of Harlequins at New Craven Park.

Dobson scored two tries and kicked seven goals and Clint Newton also crossed the try-line twice.

Shaun Briscoe, Joel Clinton and Scott Wheeldon ran in the rest of Rovers' seven tries with the visitors' only response coming in the form of a Danny Ward consolation.

But Hull KR almost slipped to an early deficit as Quins right winger Jamie O'Callaghan was halted just short of the line.

Chances

The hosts eventually warmed up with Peter Fox and Ben Cockayne instigating moves that looked promising but yielded no points.

Rovers' pressure was rewarded 16 minutes in when Dobson combined with Ben Fisher to play in Newton for the first try of the contest.

Dobson knocked on from the restart but Hull KR eventually managed to work the ball upfield again, only to see Fisher held up over the Quins' line.

The second try was soon on the board, however, as the ball was worked out to Newton on the right, who crashed over the line with Dobson converting.

Rovers went close again just before the half-hour mark but referee Richard Silverwood ruled a dangerous deep kick had been grounded by a defender.

But Dobson had soon increased the lead after bursting through down the right for a fine individual score before adding the extras himself.

Pressure

Rovers continued to pile on the pressure but handling errors from Cockayne and Josh Hodgson mean they did not add to the 18-0 lead before the half.

After the interval, Dobson intercepted a wild pass from Rob Purdham to race 80 metres and touch down.

Briscoe joined the party four minutes later after spinning out of a tackle to cross with Dobson on hand for the conversion.

The rout continued as Rhys Lovegrove sent in Wheeldon for another try with 57 minutes on the clock.

Quins then finally got on the scoreboard as former Rovers player Ward forced his way over.

With seven minutes remaining, Liam Watts evaded two tacklers before sending Aussie prop Clinton in for his maiden Hull KR try. Dobson then made it seven conversions from seven.

Harlequins threatened to score again in the dying stages but Cockayne made a try-saving tackle to deny Luke Dorn.