Robins stay fifth after beating Dragons

Betfred Super League

Hull KR (22) 28

Tries: Broadbent 2, Litten, Burgess, May Goals: Martin 4

Catalans (6) 10

Tries: Staines, Makinson Goals: Aispuro-Bichet

Hull KR kept up the heat up on the top four and boosted their hopes of a home play-off with a comfortable 28-10 victory over Catalan Dragons at Craven Park.

Four first-half tries for the Robins with two from Jack Broadbent and one each from Jez Litten and Joe Burgess put the hosts 22-6 up at the break.

Charlie Staines, with a brilliant solo effort, got the Dragons on the scoreboard but the visitors were unable to mount a comeback in a second period in which both sides scored a try each - the hosts through Tyrone May and Catalans via Tommy Makinson's effort seven minutes from time.

Victory means the Robins stay fifth, two points behind Wakefield and Warrington, with the reigning champions playing the Wolves on Tuesday in a match that could have a huge bearing on the play-offs.

Hull KR will have star man Mikey Lewis back for that clash after he served the last game of a four-match ban for headbutting Warrington's Ewan Irwin on 18 July, although Willie Peters' side have remained unbeaten during his suspension.

They always held Catalans at arm's length on the scoreboard, racing into an 18-0 lead with Broadbent's two tries sandwiching a sparkling break and touch down from Litten.

But the Dragons had their moments, certainly in the second half when they threw the ball about with pleasing abandon even if they were often their own worst enemies, being unable to capitalise when the line was in sight.

Staines' brilliant solo effort, running 80 metres and diving over in the left corner was the standout moment of the first half, Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet's kick from out wide decorating it perfectly.

And there were glimpses in the second when Catalans burst from deep with real menace.

But Burgess' try before the break - his 18th in his past 17 appearances - gave Hull KR a 22-6 half-time lead to leave the French side always playing catch up.

A questionable call for a forward pass when they were threatening to close the gap to 10 points denied them during one promising break, Toby Sexton giving away a penalty for dissent in the aftermath.

From that improved field position Hull KR scored with May going over with Catalans forward Josh Allen as a backpack to make it 28-6 and as good as wrap things up.

There was still time for the Dragons to get a consolation through Makinson, now just four games from his retirement.

Hull KR coach Willie Peters speaking to BBC Radio Humberside:

"How do I describe that? A win and we move on. First 20 minutes we were outstanding and then we kind of went away. Off the back of Staines' try they started running harder and we got a bit looser.

"We had a good chat at half-time on what we needed to work on but the second half was average. What I was proud of was how we defended our line. The boys were resilient that's for sure but we made things a little bit harder for ourselves.

"To be honest I don't want to read too much into it. It is about winning games and ticking them off. We have a short turnaround now, four days into five days and into a four-day turnaround. What I want the players to do is recover.

"We came to get two points and that's what we did. It was not a polished performance and we have another important game on Tuesday.

"I think the top two is sorted between the top three. The most important thing for us is making sure we are in the six. If you tick enough off you possibly get to fourth but it is hard to see where we finish [at the moment]."

Catalan Dragons coach John Cartwright speaking to BBC Radio Humberside:

"I thought we started the game with a lack of belief. Those first three tries we didn't make them work hard enough for their points. Off the back of that we started to make some ground and threatened their line.

"We struggled to score but I think we found a bit of belief in ourselves for the last 60 minutes and they really grew as a team from it. The problem is we haven't been able to be consistent.

"They are a very good team and they defend really well. We threw a lot at them but they had answers most times. We had two big chances and if we could have got within 10 points or even better. The second half was pretty even."

Hull KR: Broadbent, Davies, Hiku, Martin, Burgess, Hampshire, May; Hadley, Litten, Luckley, Whitbread, Batchelor, Minchella

Interchanges: Amone, Lawton, Leyland, Pangai

Catalans: Stines, Darrelatour, Cotric, Aispuro-Bichet, Makinson, Sexton, Dodd; Allen, Leeming, Bousquet, Garcia, Lipowicz, Da Costa.

Interchanges: Satae, Condon, Laguerre, Lis.

Referee: Liam Rush.