Match Reports

HULL KR V HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS

Hull KR 42 vs Huddersfield Giants 22 - Sun 11th May 2008

The Robins eased through to the Quarter Finals of the Carnegie Challenge Cup with a comfortable eight-try victory over the Huddersfield Giants, with winger Peter Fox claiming a brace.

Coming off the back of a third straight derby victory, the Robins were full of confidence as they welcomed the Huddersfield Giants to Craven Park, for their Carnegie Challenge Cup Fifth Round tie. With new signing Michael Dobson still awaiting a work permit, Scott Murrell continued in the scrum half role, in an almost full strength Rovers side.

On a hot summer’s afternoon, any mistakes were going to be crucial, but both sides started badly, with Shane Elford and Clint Newton both being forced over the touchline on their first sets. But after testing each other out, it was the Giants who drew first blood, as Paul Whatuira touched down a Kevin Brown grubber which was deflected off Paul Cooke’s boot. Luke Robinson added the conversion, and only three minutes later, he was lining up another attempt. Again it was Kevin Brown who created the score, this time offloading to Steve Snitch, who put Ryan Hudson under the posts.

The Robins were struggling with the pace of the Huddersfield play, and were finding field position hard to come by, but aided by a penalty given against Rod Jensen whilst in possession, the Red and Whites got themselves on the scoreboard. Scott Murrell sold a dummy close to the line and crashed through two defenders, before stretching out an arm to touch down on the line. Paul Cooke slotted over the conversion.

That score gave the Robins the momentum they had been looking for, and seven minutes later, they had taken the lead. First, Ben Cockayne’s intelligent grubber was touched down by Daniel Fitzhenry, then, under pressure from Clint Newton, a skyscraper of a bomb from Cooke was spilled by Rod Jensen and Chev Walker put Peter Fox over. Cooke added the conversion, before Rovers grabbed another try in the final minute of the half. This time it was a clever grubber from Ben Galea, which was pounced on bravely by Shaun Briscoe. The full-back was awarded the try, but had to leave the field after receiving a knee to the back of the head. Cooke tagged on the extras to send his side into the break with a ten point advantage.

Half-Time: Hull Kingston Rovers 22 Huddersfield Giants 12

After starting slowly in the first half, the Robins got off to another poor start, gifting the Giants a try inside the first four minutes of the half. A loose pass was snapped up by Paul Whatuira, and despite a valiant chase from Ben Cockayne, the Kiwi touched down. The Red and Whites needed to put the Giants on the back foot, but instead they conceded back-to-back penalties on their own line, and were made to pay. Eorl Crabtree attracted four players to him, before offloading, and Martin Aspinwall went over. Tom Hemmingway booted over the extras, but that only served to spark the Robins.

Within seven minutes, the Red and Whites had their ten point lead back through a quick-fire brace from Peter Fox and Mick Vella. Quick hands from Clint Newton and Chev Walker gave Fox a chance at the corner, and he took it superbly. Cooke was wide of the mark with the touchline conversion, but he was soon able to make amends. Luke Robinson’s restart was intelligently caught on the full with one foot over the dead-ball line by Mick Vella to present his side with the attacking chance, and fittingly it was Vella who crashed through the Giants defence to touch down. Cooke made no mistake with the conversion, and suddenly it was a long way back for the Huddersfield Giants.

The Robins were dominating the contest, and could have had another try with twelve minutes left. A cross-kick from Cooke was lost in his in-goal area by Rod Jensen, only for Chev Walker to spill the ball as he tried to ground it. The Giants’ second half was then summed up as Martin Aspinwall intercepted a long ball on his own line, only to be run down and thrown into touch by Rovers’ Man of the Match Clint Newton. And the second rower underlined why he was worthy of that award in the next set. First he put an intelligent grubber into the in-goal to force a repeat set, then his powerful charge and inside ball put Chris Chester over.

A good afternoon for the Red and Whites was fittingly finished off by a long range effort from Ben Fisher, as he was in support of a Kirk Netherton break to bring up the forty point mark, and Cooke’s conversion made the margin of victory a comfortable twenty points.

Full-Time: Hull Kingston Rovers 42 Huddersfield Giants 22

Hull KR: 1. Shaun Briscoe; 2. Peter Fox, 3. Chev Walker, 4. Jake Webster, 5. Daniel Fitzhenry; 6. Paul Cooke, 13. Scott Murrell; 20. Mick Vella, 9. Ben Fisher, 10. David Mills; 11. Clint Newton, 14. Stanley Gene, 12. Ben Galea.

Replacements: 8. Garret Crossman, 28. Chris Chester, 22. Kirk Netherton, 15. Ben Cockayne.

Huddersfield: 24. Rod Jensen; 2. Martin Aspinwall, 22. Michael Lawrence, 4. Paul Whatuira, 3. Shane Elford; 6. Kevin Brown, 7. Luke Robinson; 18. Darrell Griffin, 19. Ryan Hudson, 10. John Skandalis; 8. Eorl Crabtree, 12. Andy Raleigh, 17. Steve Snitch.

Replacements: 14. Stuart Jones, 15. Paul Jackson, 16. Keith Mason, 20. Tom Hemmingway.

Referee: Mr P. Bentham Attendance: 6,618

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