Super League: Wakefield beat Hull KR 44-24 after pair of hat-tricks
Last Updated: 15/02/15 6:44pm
Chris Riley and Jacob Miller scored hat-tricks as Wakefield beat Hull KR 44-24 to maintain their perfect start to the Super League season.
The triumph, coupled with last week’s 24-22 win at Castleford, means the unfancied Wakefield sit atop the league alongside St Helens rather than lurking among the bottom of the pack as many predicted them to do.
Sunday’s emphatic win was sealed when Riley went over for three tries within an 11-minute spell after the hour mark to turn a 22-18 lead into a comfortable advantage.
Hull KR are still looking for their first win of the season.
Hull’s Albert Kelly opened the scoring after seven minutes after gathering his own kick before going over but debutant Matty Ashurst drew Wakefield level.
Ken Sio was hauled down just short of the line after 31 minutes, allowing Tyrone McCarthy to score a try for Hull which Josh Mantellato converted to make it 12-6.
But Wakefield rebounded with two tries in the final five minutes of the first half, largely owing to the impact of replacement Pita Godinet.
Miller sprinted clear from 40 yards to register his first before handling twice in a flowing move to make it 16-12 to Wakefield at the break.
Craig Hall kicked a couple more points in the second period for Wakefield, whose captain Danny Kirmond split the visitors’ defence moments later for his team’s fourth try.
Hall booted Wakefield 22-12 up but Hull responded in the 51st minute with Sio powering over for his first Super League try.
The contest could have gone either way at that stage but centre Reece Lyne twice produced pin-point passes to get Riley over for tries and the winger finished off a long-range break from Godinet to complete his hat-trick on 71 minutes.
Hull KR debutant Ryan Bailey went over four minutes later but Wakefield hit back as Miller completed his hat-trick and Hall kicked his sixth goal.
