Headlines
MORGAN HAPPY TO SHOW FAITH IN YOUNG TALENT
Saturday 24th July 2010
Mariano made his top flight debut and acquitted himself well from the bench in the absence of Mick Vella, whilst Spaven lined up for his second appearance of the season against the Bulls in place of the injured Josh Hodgson.
With a glut of injuries Morgan again showed that he is prepared to give home grown talent the opportunity to shine on the big stage.
"I don't know about it being a good opportunity but it was the cards we've been dealt," said Morgan, when asked if playing a Bulls side low on confidence was the ideal chance to throw in the youngsters.
"We lost Josh Hodgson to an injury in the week but I've got 100% faith in those players to do the job. They've trained with us and some have played a couple of games and some haven't.
"That's what they're here for. They're not here to work Monday to Friday, they're here to work the weekends as well.
"I think they were both excited about playing and I had no hesitation about putting them in when we lost a couple.
"Frank's a big strong thing and Spav's been in and around our club for a couple of year's now and he's shown that he's got a good football brain."
Morgan also paid tribute to Sam Latus who crossed the whitewash for the first time in Super League. I think they were both excited about playing and I had no hesitation about putting them in when we lost a couple. Justin Morgan on Frankie Mariano and Scott Spaven
"He has come up with the goods. He came up with some good plays including a nice defensive effort in the corner there.
"He had a guy inside him who hasn't played for five months but I thought he bounced back well.
"He's a strong kid mentally and I'm proud that he did a good job."
There was also praise for some of the more experienced players in the squad, including two-try Shaun Briscoe who was excellent in both attack and defence.
"I thought Shaun Briscoe had a good, strong game for us and snuffed out a couple of tries with some smart plays.
"Rhys Lovegrove played the whole first half in the front row. I know other front rowers do it but it's the first time he's done it." Frankie Mariano is the special guest on 99.8 KCFM's Robin's Night on Tuesday night from 7pm
Morgan will be hoping for more of the same when Castleford Tigers visit Craven Park on Sunday, with tickets on sale now.
You can buy from either of the Official Retail Stores at Craven Park or 269 Holderness Road, online via www.hullkrsuperstore.co.uk or by calling 0844 2490 105.
Academy Round-up
Hull KR under 20's 28-48 Bradford Bulls under 20's
Despite getting off on the front foot to lead 16-0 after a quarter of an hour, the Robins failed to capitalise and fell to a far bigger, more experienced Bradford. An enthusiastic start brought tries to Benn Hardcastle, Jordan Cox and Gareth Moore, Hardcastle converting two, but with players having to turn out in unfamiliar positions - Ben Petersen at fullback, Josh Wilson at scrum half and Nick Johnson in the second row to name just three - Rovers were always up against it once Bradford started to win the forward battle.
Cox was always a threat and created a try for Johnson just before the break as well as scoring a deserved second try late on, but inexperience and fatigue also played their part as did injuries, so it was little wonder then that the second half in particular turned out to be a tough period. The Bulls had too much for Rovers on this occasion.
Hull Kingston Rovers 28
T: Cox 2, Hardcastle (B.), Moore, Johnson
G: Hardcastle (B.) 4
Bradford Bulls 48
T: Sherriffe (J.) 2, Sherriffe (R.) 2, O'Brien, Crookes, Kay, Burgess (T.),
Southernwood
G: Southernwood 6
Hull KR: Ben Petersen; Sam Bowring, Anthony Tognola, Curtis Pullen, Dominic Proctor; Ben Hardcastle, Josh Wilson; Dominic Dee, Nathan Powley, Gareth Moore,
Nick Johnson, Jordan Cox, Scott Taylor. Subs. Adam Sunman, James Green, Sean Richardson, Richard Beaumont.
Widnes Vikings under 18's 30 Hull KR under 18's 22
After visiting Widnes previously this season and being given something of a lesson in the form of a fifty point defeat, Rovers this time found themselves having to call upon four of the Under 16 Scholarship squad, three of whom were making their Academy debuts, as injuries continue to ravage the Club. The youngsters stood up well and with ten minutes to go were ahead by ten points, but Widnes, unbeaten in their previous nine games, proved too strong in the final stages.
Widnes Vikings 30
T: Butterworth 2, Hulme, Brown, Gore, Walsh
G: Gilmore 3
Hull Kingston Rovers 22
T: Hardcastle (L.), Maughan, Everitt, Salter
G: Bell 3
H.T. 16-12
Hull KR: Luke Hardcastle; Sam Watson, James Maughan, Rowan Colquhoun, Danny Kelso; Kristian Bell, Nathan Slater; Sam Jowsey, Alex Everitt, Sonny Esslemont, Aaron Ollett, Liam Salter, Lloyd Ofori. Subs. Matthew Beharrell, Scott Eggleton, Jordan Milner, Louis Sherriff.
