Late win for Wildcats

Wakefield's hopes of a Super League play-off place have received a boost after they came from behind to score a 26-18 victory against Hull KR at Craven Park.

Although the Wildcats went ahead early on thanks to a Damien Blanch try, the home side assumed control of proceedings and appeared to be on course for a much-needed win.

Rovers went 18-4 ahead when Peter Fox touched down just past the hour. But three tries in six minutes saw the match turned on its head, with the victory taking Wakefield to fourth place in the table.

And, on an atrocious night in east Hull, the result also means that Justin Morgan's side have slumped to four defeats in a row.

Prior to kick-off, both sides paid tribute to former Wakefield player and coach David Topliss, who died on Monday, in the form of a minute's silence.

The Robins looked the more likely to score in the early exchanges and Stanley Gene had the ball over the line in the fourth minute.

However, in the process of fending off two Wakefield challenges, the Papua-New Guinea veteran knocked on.

Wakefield's first real chance fell to Matt Blaymire in the 14th minute. But, having crossed the line, the full-back was penalised after grounding the ball with his first attempted score.

Blanch touched down in the left-hand corner two minutes later but video replays showed his knee crossed the touch line.

No mistake

However, the Ireland international made no mistake in the Wildcats' next attack, the winger pouncing on a Danny Brough chip through to make it 4-0.

Brough missed the extras, with the home side not responding until the 29th minute, getting their break after Adam Watene conceded a penalty for a high tackle deep in Wildcats territory.

The ball was played to Clint Newton and, although Ben Cockayne's final pass looked forward, the second rower powered through on an angled run to slide over, Paul Cooke kicking the extras.

Hull KR were now 6-4 ahead and should have extended their lead when Cockayne's attempt to run onto a grubber kick saw him impeded by Tony Martin.

A penalty kick resulted, but the home side's efforts ultimately came to nought when Ben Fisher's lunge for the line instead saw him knock on.

Fisher did the same with three minutes remaining in the opening half, the poor conditions certainly playing their part as the hooker fumbled the ball.

And Marshall would not have been happy after no Rovers player ran onto a Cooke offload just before the interval; neverthless, they finished the half in the ascendancy.

They should have gone further ahead when Gene broke in the 47th minute - his pass to release Cockayne being adjudged forward. Five minutes later Fox broke out of Hull KR's defence, but the Wilcats' defence held firm.

Wakefield's next set saw Blanch again heading for the left-hand corner but superb back-tracking from Cockayne saw him denied.

With the game opening up, Hull KR then extended their lead when Mick Vella received Chaz I'Anson's inside pass to plough over - the video referee giving the try despite a claim of obstruction levelled against Cooke.

The stand-off kicked the extras and the hour mark saw Fox putting real distance between Hull KR and their opponents, the former Wakefield man sliding in at the right-hand corner.

With Rovers conceding a penalty, Wakefield earned themselves a response two plays later with Brad Drew going over by the posts, Brough finding the target.

Game on

And it appeared very much a case of game on with six minutes remaining when Ryan Atkins made use of his upper body strength to fend off two challenges and cross over.

On this occasion, Brough could not convert. Nevertheless, Wakefield continued to press forward knowing that a try and a conversion would seal victory.

And, with three minutes left, both duly came when, after a break from the Wildcats, an inside pass from Sam Obst set up a jubilant Jamie Rooney, with Brough this time converting.

After Cockayne surrendered possession, Man Of The Match Drew then scored his second in the dying moments of the match with Brough adding the extras.