Rovers heap misery on Quins
Hull KR extended Harlequins' winless streak to seven matches by claiming a 37-24 victory over the Londoners at Craven Park.
Last Updated: 25/04/11 8:45pm
Hull KR extended Harlequins' winless streak to seven matches by claiming a 37-24 victory over the Londoners at Craven Park.
After a strong start, Quins continue to tumble down the Super League table while Rovers grabbed two much-needed points as they attempt to reverse their own poor form.
The scores were level with 15 minutes to go, but two late tries from Scott Murrell and Ben Fisher, along with a Michael Dobson drop goal, saw the hosts over the line.
The two sides boasted just one win in 12 combined games heading into the contest but the Robins did not seem to lack confidence as they enjoyed the early possession and territory.
Jake Webster scored the first try of the afternoon in the 11th minute as he crossed on the right after a well disguised and delayed pass outside by stand-off Blake Green.
Louis Sheriff then marked his Rovers debut with a try, the 18-year-old being played in after Ben Galea and Ben Cockayne had combined well on the left-hand side. Dobson converted both scores to make it 12-0.
Rovers had let two-try leads slip before this season, though, and Quins responded with some pressure of their own as they tried to set the nerves jangling in the hosts' camp.
Tries
They got on the board midway through the first-half as Oliver Wilkes got up and touched down after it initially looked like he had have been stopped in his tracks by full-back Sheriff.
Gale converted to halve the deficit, and brought the scores level five minutes later as he added the extras when Karl Temata brushed off a poor attempted tackle by Rhys Lovegrove for an easy try.
But Rovers were soon to regain their advantage as scrum-half Dobson crossed for his first try of the season due to some some slack defending by Quins.
Dobson then set up his side's fourth try with a 40/20, with Ben Galea providing the finishing touches to make it 24-12 at the half-time interval.
The momentum, though, swung again after the break as Luke Dorn raced 50 metres to go around Sheriff with ease before Quins scored another to level the match.
On-loan Lee Mitchell took advantage of a Danny Ward offload to score and Gale's pair of conversions made the scoreline 24-24.
But, the decisive moment of the match came in the 66th minute as Murrell opened up space for himself with a side-step before touching down, with Dobson adding the extras.
Quins did not look like threatening the advantage in the closing stages and Rovers killed the game off with a Dobson drop goal and Fisher's try in the last minute.