Super League: Hull KR win 26-14 in first double over Wigan in 37 years

Kane Linnett (left) and Rowan Milnes were both among the Hull KR try scorers in their win over Wigan

Hull Kingston Rovers enjoyed one of their greatest days in Super League as they beat Wigan Warriors for the second time this season.

On the day chairman Neil Hudgell said that he had called off his year-long attempt to sell the club, Rovers backed it up on the park as they completed a first double over Wigan in 37 years.

Hull KR almost let slip an early 16-0 lead to go in only 16-14 at the break.

But they broke Wigan with successive tries from Kane Linnett and Jez Litten.

Rovers made a storming start, going 16-0 up inside the first 16 minutes with tries from Albert Vete, Rowan Milnes and Ethan Ryan.

Wigan were almost level at the break thanks to tries from wingers Jake Bibby and a Liam Marshall double.

But the second-half introduction of hooker Litten and the return of captain Shaun Kenny-Dowall, who had suffered a first-half foot injury, seemed to spark the Robins in front of their at times raucous 6,230 fans.

And they stunned Wigan when Linnett went over on the right before, from the restart, George King's break dwn the middle paved the way for Litten to go over on the left for his first try of the season.

Ben Crooks landed three of his five conversion attempts, but two of Harry Smith's kicks were from the touchline - and his only successful goal was the first of Marshall's two tries.

The second Marshall try was a sensational one-handed finish in the left corner - and Wigan, although hit by the first-half loss of Sam Powell, looked destined to come back and win.

But Tony Smith's Rovers reset - and kept the Warriors scoreless in the second period when Jackson Hastings was denied a late Wigan try by a Marshall aerial knock-on.

Despite finishing with 11 men to Wigan's 12 in a flurry of late yellow cards, Rovers saw it through to match their 18-8 win at the DW Stadium in June.

Who's next?

Fifth-placed Hull KR go into next Saturday's East Yorkshire derby three points ahead of Hull FC, still homing in on the lure of a place in the Super League play-offs - and their best finish in over a decade.

Wigan, still in fourth, are also in derby action next weekend, at home to St Helens.

Hull KR coach Tony Smith:

"Kenny-Dowall epitomises what a captain should do. Honestly, unreal. We've tipped our hat to him.

"He's done some damage to the arch of his foot. Our physio mentioned to him just before half-time that he could quickly numb it. He went, 'Numb it for me so I can go back out'.

"It wasn't just the courage that he showed and the toughness, it was the quality of what he did when he went back on to lead the way for us.

"In terms of commitment to the cause, in terms of defending the try line and in terms of not letting Wigan score it was fantastic."

Wigan coach Adrian Lam:

"It was too hard to catch back after we gave them such a good start.

"Losing Sam Powell certainly messed up with our rotations. It's always difficult when you lose your nine. He's OK. We've got a seven-day turnaround.

"We are losing big moments in games. We are not giving ourselves a chance. We gave away a six again on top of a four and then a high tackle and it's game over."

Hull KR: Crooks; Ryan, Minikin, Kenny-Dowall, Hall; Takairangi, Milnes; Vete, Parcell, King, Linnett, Johnson, Lawler.

Interchanges: Sims, Litten, Storton, Maher.

Sin-bin: Takairangi (77). Parcell (79).

Wigan: Hardaker; Bibby, Isa, Gildart, Marshall; Smith, Hastings; Clubb, Powell, Havard, Farrell, Pearce-Paul, Smithies.

Interchanges: Bullock, Byrne, Field, Shorrocks.

Sin-bin: Farrell (79)

Referee: Liam Moore.

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