Saints Down Rovers To Stay Top

The full back took his tally to eight as Justin Holbrook’s men bounced back from last week’s loss to Leeds.

Defensively, the visitors were solid too, halting a number of Rovers’ attacks on the goal-line to stay top of Super League.

The game took a while to get going, but when it did Saints took full advantage.

Firstly, Theo Fages’ footwork wrong-footed the Robins defence to win a penalty.

Then, Luke Thompson took a short pass to smash through the defence and put down under pressure.

It was great show of strength from the young prop to bring up his second of the season.

Danny Richardson tagged on the extras – and then added a penalty on 18 minutes for 8-0.

Saints defended four sets on their own line following an error from the restart – and then forced a knock on to gain possession in the host’s 40.

And it was a chance they weren’t going to pass up as from the scrum, Benny Barba ‘showed and goed’ and went over in the corner.

Richardson bettering the score with a cracking conversion from the touchline.

Hull KR came back into it as the half ended and after huge runs from Mose Masoe and Justin Carney, they found Ryan Shaw who reduced the deficit.

14-6 to the visitors at half time.

Both sides ripped into each other in the early stages of the second but each found ball control at a premium.

Indeed, Saints missed a couple of opportunities to turn the screw and silence the home support but a superb inside pass from Zeb Taia, close in, saw Barba get over for his second just before the hour mark.

Ten minutes later it was game over.

Back to back penalties got Holbrook’s men into range before great handling saw Barba link up with Tommy Makinson on the right touchline – the centre duly turning it back inside for Lomax.

Moments later, after the restart had gone into touch, Dom Peyroux took the ball at pace and smashed through the defence to seal the deal.

Match Summary:

Rovers:
Tries: Shaw
Goals: Shaw (0 from 1)

Saints:
Tries: Thompson, Barba (2), Lomax, Peyroux
Goals: Richardson (5 from 6)

Penalties Awarded:
Rovers: 10
Saints: 9

HT: 6-14
FT: 6-30

REF: L Moore

ATT: 7724

Teams:

Rovers:
1. Adam Quinlan; 5. Ryan Shaw, 4. Andrew Heffernan, 3. Thomas Minns, 36. Justin Carney; 7. Danny McGuire, 24. Christopher Atkin; 21. Robert Mulhern, 18. George Lawler, 10. Mose Masoe, 11. Maurice Blair, 17. Chris Clarkson, 13. Ben Kavanagh.
Subs: 12. James Greenwood, 15. James Donaldson, 19. Tommy Lee, 29. Jordan Walne.

Saints:
23. Ben Barba; 5. Adam Swift, 2. Tommy Makinson, 4. Mark Percival, 19. Regan Grace; 1. Jonny Lomax, 18. Danny Richardson; 10. Kyle Amor, 9. James Roby, 16. Luke Thompson, 17. Dom Peyroux, 11. Zeb Taia, 12. Jon Wilkin.
Subs: 6. Theo Fages, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 14. Luke Douglas, 15. Morgan Knowles.