Hull KR 30-0 Widnes: Robins secure Super League status for 2019
Last Updated: 30/09/18 6:09pm
Hull KR secured their place in Super League for 2019 with a comfortable 30-0 win over relegated Widnes at KCOM Craven Park.
Rovers went into the final match of the Super 8s needing to win by 14 points to pip Toronto to third place in the Qualifiers and, with acting captain Danny McGuire leading the way, they had the game sewn up by half-time, when they led 20-0.
It means Toronto will be at home to London Broncos in next Sunday's Million Pound Game to determine the 12th and final place in Super League for 2019, with the Rugby Football League confirming both clubs are eligible for promotion.
Victory provided a timely pick-me-up for ailing Rovers captain Shaun Lunt, who remains hospitalised with an infection, while a sixth defeat in seven matches meant a disappointing end for Widnes duo Chris Houston and Aaron Heremaia as they entered retirement after the final whistle.
Interim head coach Francis Cummins is facing an uncertain future but the Vikings will have the services of a crop of promising youngsters like Owen Buckley, Joe Lyons and Keanan Brand, who all showed up well in the final game, as well as a £500,000 parachute payment, to help them regroup in the Championship.
Rovers, promoted 12 months ago without having to go through the Million Pound Game, were desperate to secure survival without it, especially having experienced the heartbreak of defeat in 2016.
There was an early sign of nerves when second-rower Joel Tomkins took a McGuire pass to reach the line only to lose control of the ball and Rovers suffered a blow when stand-off Todd Carney went off on six minutes after taking a heavy blow.
But the versatile Maurice Blair, back in action earlier than expected from a calf injury, slotted effortlessly into the half-back role alongside the influential McGuire as the Robins set about their task in earnest.
McGuire's short pass got second-rower James Greenwood through a gaping hole in the Vikings defence for the game's first try and centre Ben Crooks gathered his high kick to score his first try for the club.
Craig Hall kicked both conversions and added a penalty to extend the lead to the required 14-0 with an hour left on the clock.
As the home side continued to make all the running, centre Junior Vaivai dropped Blair's pass with the line beckoning but there was no stopping full-back Chris Atkin after McGuire had raced clear from Mose Masoe's offload inside his own half.
Trailing 20-0 at the break, there was no way back for the visitors when Rovers created an overlap for Vaivai to go in for their fourth try on 57 minutes and Hall added another nine minutes later.
They might have scored more as Widnes' performance disintegrated in the final quarter - they finished with 12 men after Tom Gilmore was sin-binned for dissent - but Tim Sheens' men had long since ensured it was job done.
