Super League: Hull KR 22-26 Huddersfield Giants

Danny Brough missed two and scored three of his five conversion efforts

Huddersfield clung on at the death against Hull KR to record a fourth consecutive victory in Super League.

David Hodgson, Kris Welham and Ade Gardner had their first-half tries for Rovers cancelled out by Leroy Cudjoe, Ukuma Ta'ai and Eorl Crabtree.

Wing Hodgson had an effort disallowed after the break before a Larne Patrick double put the Giants in front.

Hodgson grabbed a late score but the visitors moved to within two points of St Helens at the summit.

There had been little to separate the teams for much of a frantic meeting, but the steel Huddersfield have possessed during a decent run of form - in which they have won nine from 10 - was enough to push them past a spirited Hull KR side in the latter stages.

And Paul Anderson's men were able to get over the line, despite losing influential forward Brett Ferres to a knee injury in a first half that swung back and forth.

Rovers, who would have climbed into the play-off places with a win, made a perfect start when Hodgson took in a Greg Eden pass to cross, before Travis Burns converted.

A moment of Danny Brough inspiration put Huddersfield on level terms, with the stand-off collecting his own chip through and then kicking a ball out wide for Jermaine McGillvary, who found Cudjoe for the score.

McGillvary had one of his own ruled out for a forward pass and Rovers capitalised with Eden putting in Welham, although Burns missed from the tee.

The Giants once again restored parity with Kyle Wood teeing up Ta'ai to plough through, only for Gardner to pick up the scraps and score at the other end from a high Kris Keating kick.

The visitors were once again behind for mere minutes as Crabtree, Ferres's replacement, danced past the Rovers back line and Brough added the extras.

But a Burns penalty on the stroke of half-time meant a frenetic opening period ended level.

In a more sedate second half, Hodgson thought he had restored the Robins' lead, but his try was ruled out for an obstruction.

It was a let-off for Huddersfield, who enjoyed another slice of luck at the opposite end when Brough's kick bounced up kindly for the on-rushing Patrick.

Brough converted to give the visitors their largest lead of the night and was once again on target after Patrick added his second try to give Huddersfield a 10-point cushion.

With the buzzer approaching, Hodgson touched down in the corner and Burns converted from a tight angle, but it was too late for Craig Sandercock's men.

Hull KR coach Craig Sandercock:

"Yeah it was a close one - we thought at half-time we might have Huddersfield measured and obviously it wasn't to be.

"The key moment I suppose was we got penalised for obstruction going to score a try and, to Huddersfield's credit, they got up the other end, kicked the ball and got the bounce and they scored.

"That was a big hit on us and from there Huddersfield managed to hang on."

Thursday's line-ups

Hull KR: Eden, Gardener, Welham, hall, Hodgson, Burns, Keating, Walker, Hodgson, Netherton, Horne, Lovegrove, Ollett

Replacements: Carlile, Cox, Weyman, Green

Huddersfield Giants: Grix, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, Broughton, Brough, Wood, Johnson, Robinson, Kopczak, Ferres, Ta'ai, Lawrence

Replacements: Crabtree, Bailey, Patrick, Faiumu

Referee: Ben Thaler

Attendance: 8,953