Peter Fox collected a hat-trick as the Robins ran in nine tries on their way to a comfortable win over the Bulls.

After the disappointment of a derby defeat, the Robins were looking to bounce back with a win over the Bradford Bulls, and erase the memory of a one-sided contest at Odsal earlier in the season. With Ben Cockayne suspended, Liam Colbon made a timely return to action to bolster Rovers' three-quarter line. Mick Vella again missed out with a rib injury, so Frankie Mariano came onto the bench for his first Super League appearance, while the injured Josh Hodgson was replaced by Scott Spaven.

The Robins got off to a bright start against the Bulls, punishing a basic mistake from the visitors to take an early lead.

Danny Addy's penalty kick to touch was flicked back infield by Shaun Briscoe, and in the next set a beautiful long ball from Michael Dobson found Peter Fox hitting a perfect angle to power over.

Bradford looked to respond after back-to-back penalties put them on the attack. Andy Lynch barged over from close range, but as he twisted out of a three-man tackle to touch down, the ball squirted out of his grip and video referee Richard Silverwood disallowed the try.

The Red and Whites wasted no time in taking advantage of that, and the two penalties which took them deep into Bulls territory, as Scott Murrell fired out a long pass to put Sam Latus in for his first Super League try.

Dobson tagged on the extras and Rovers were quickly hammering on the Bradford door again after a massive 40-20 from Murrell - his second of the game - put them on the attack.

The visitors' defence was working hard, but a perfectly-weighted grubber from Dobson kept the pressure on, and the Robins reaped the rewards when Joel Clinton blasted past Heath L'Estrange and Dave Halley to touch down.

Dobson converted, but the Bulls underlined that despite their nine-game losing streak, they were still a very useful outfit as they began to build some momentum by forcing repeat sets on Rovers' line. The home side's defence was scrambling well, but Elliot Whitehead's offload proved too much and Stuart Reardon went over.

That sparked Bradford into action, and a flowing move put Vinny Finigan away down the touchline. The Robins' defence came rushing across, and in an attempt to buy his winger more space, Michael Worrincy pulled back Murrell and referee Thierry Alibert penalised him.

Once again, the Red and Whites made the Bulls pay dearly for their mistake, as a strong run from Frankie Mariano laid the platform for Clint Newton to steam onto Dobson's short ball and straight past Danny Addy to score.

Bradford's confidence was not dented, and they almost cut the Robins' lead four minutes later. Steve Menzies's grubber looked to have put Vinny Finigan, but a flying Shaun Briscoe did superbly to boot the ball dead in the nick of time.

That was only a brief reprieve though, as a long ball from Halley put Finigan over two minutes before the break, and with time ticking away, the Bulls went in search of another.

A smart offload from Halley put Menzies away, but with two men in support, Briscoe did brilliantly to knock the pass down and save a certain try.

Half-Time: Hull KR 20      Bradford Bulls 8

The Robins held a handsome advantage at the interval, but the momentum was with the visitors. However Elliot Whitehead knocked-on on the second tackle of the half, putting the Red and Whites in an excellent attacking position which they swiftly turned into points.

Dobson's short ball isolated Addy once again, and Newton powered past him to collect his second try, Dobson converting.

That score stunned the Bulls, but they again created a good opportunity when Chris Nero broke clear, only to hesitate before delivering the final pass to his support and spill the ball in Briscoe's tackle.

Several minutes later, a L'Estrange knock-on at dummy half handed the Robins another excellent opportunity, and Dobson's long ball allowed Newton to put Fox in for his second score, Dobson converting.

Bradford were looking like a side who were struggling for confidence, and another chance went begging after Jamie Langley's long ball sailed forward, denying Finigan a second try.

Rovers were looking hungry for more points, and Briscoe obliged as he finished off a good move from inside his own half.

Ben Galea's inside ball put Scott Wheeldon away, and Briscoe was on his shoulder to go over, Dobson again adding the extras.

The Bulls again showed their fighting spirit when Addy's restart bounced just inches inside the dead-ball line, handing his side the ball back and setting the position for Craig Kopczak to barge over.

Addy converted before the visitors added another, somewhat controversial try, three minutes later.

Worrincy looked to have palmed Addy's bomb forwards, however referee Alibert waved play-on. Briscoe recovered the ball, only for L'Estrange to strip it from him and race over for a try awarded by the video official.

Addy added the extras to cut the Robins' lead to three scores, but Rovers pressed home their advantage when Fox took advantage of a quick 20-metre restart to burst past Worrincy and Menzies, round Halley and carry Michael Platt over with him for his hat-trick.

Finigan added a consolation for Bradford after a scruffy offload from Platt on the last tackle, but the Red and Whites extended their advantage through a Dobson drop-goal and a second try to Briscoe to finish deserved winners.

Full-Time: Hull KR 49      Bradford Bulls 24

Hull KR: 1. Shaun Briscoe; 2. Peter Fox, 32. Josh Charnley, 5. Liam Colbon, 29. Sam Latus; 9. Scott Murrell, 7. Michael Dobson; 30. Joel Clinton, 17. Ben Fisher, 8. Rhys Lovegrove; 11. Clint Newton, 13. Ben Galea, 22. Liam Watts.

Replacements: 10. Scott Wheeldon, 16. Jason Netherton, 23. Scott Spaven, 26. Frankie Mariano.

Bradford: 1. Dave Halley; 33. Vinny Finigan, 15. Michael Platt, 4. Chris Nero, 5. Stuart Reardon; 11. Steve Menzies, 32. Danny Addy; 10. Andy Lynch, 9. Heath L'Estrange, 18. Craig Kopczak; 20. Elliot Whitehead, 16. Michael Worrincy, 13. Jamie Langley.

Replacements: 23. Steve Crossley, 14. Wayne Godwin, 12. Glenn Hall, 24. Tom Olbison.

Referee: Mr T. Alibert                        Attendance: 7,854