Hull KR 27-18 Wigan: Shaun Kenny-Dowall scores first Super League hat-trick in Rovers win
- Published
Shaun Kenny-Dowall's first Hull KR hat-trick was the sixth of his career
Betfred Super League |
|---|
Hull KR (13) 27 |
Tries: Kenny-Dowall 3, Hall, Linett Goals: Coote 3 Drop goal: Abdull |
Wigan (12) 18 |
Tries: Marshall, Field, Pearce-Paul, Wardle Goals: Smith |
New Zealand centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall ran in his first Super League hat-trick as Hull KR won an excellent game of nine tries against Wigan Warriors.
After a first-half of five tries, and two key KR touchline conversions from Lachlan Coote, Jordan Abdull's drop goal edged Rovers a 13-12 halfway lead.
But Wigan could only manage one more try after the break to Rovers' three.
Kane Linnett went over, and Kenny-Dowall added to his first-half opener with two more to complete his treble.
Although all three Rovers second-half conversions were missed, Coote landed a penalty - and it was Kenny-Dowall's late third that finally sealed the hosts' opening weekend win.
It meant victory for new Rovers boss Willie Peters in his first Super League game in charge - but it came at a cost, with winger Hall brought off at half-time with a rib injury, while debutant Rhys Kennedy is also a doubt for Thursday night's trip to Salford after being flattened to earn a precautionary trip to hospital.
Rovers got former Wigan man Peters' reign off to a flier when 35-year-old Ryan Hall went in at the corner, improved by the first of Coote's two left-touchline conversions.
But Wigan then stormed back with three tries in 13 minutes, as Liam Marshall went in at the left corner, followed by two set up by Aussie half-back Cade Cust.
Cust's kick was knocked down by Toby King for Jai Field to score in the right corner, then he set up the third try for Kai Pearce-Paul on 22 minutes.
But Harry Smith was off target with all three kicks, to leave Rovers still in touch at only 12-6 down. And the hosts turned things round.
Liam Marshall's try on nine minutes was the first of three for Wigan in quick succession
Kenny-Dowall forced his way over just past the half hour near left touchline, Coote converted that one too and Abdull's one-pointer right on the half-time hooter got their noses in front.
Although Hall did not reappear after the break, Linnett burrowed over from dummy-half. And, although Coote missed that one, he earned his side a seven-point cushion after Wigan were penalised for a dangerous, inflammatory tackle on Mikey Lewis.
After Morgan Smithies was yellow-carded for a late barge on Lewis, Rovers cashed in when he was played in by James Batchelor.
Cust's quick counter fed by Marshall's break down the left fed Wardle to score on his debut; this time Smith landing the kick from out wide. But, having reduced the gap to 23-18, Kenny-Dowall's third try closed the door.
Ryan Hall's tally of 227 Super League tries is bettered only by his old Leeds team-mate Danny McGuire (247)
Hull KR head coach Willie Peters:
"The big thing for our club is the lack of belief that we can really do something, which has really held us back.
"It's probably why we haven't won a Super League title and been in Grand Finals. We need to win more games like this so we can start building that belief.
"I'm not going to get carried away. It's round one and we've got another game in five days. I know things can change pretty quickly and we'll keep our feet on the ground."
"Shaun was outstanding. He's our inspirational leader. He's been doing it now for quite a few years in the NRL and over here. We had some adversity with Ryan going off at half-time. Shaun went on the wing and handled it like a true leader would."
Wigan head coach Matt Peet:
"We were second best. Games are won on physicality and energy and they had it covered, which is a shame. We'll have to learn quickly this week.
"KR had a good defence. We bounced off too many tackles and the ruck got really quick and, off the back of that, some of our defence wasn't what it needs to be.
"With the ball we probably overplayed our hands at times.
"We do encourage our lads to express ourselves but sometimes we overdid it."
Hull KR: Coote; Ryan, Opacic, Kenny-Dowall, Hall; Lewis, Abdull; Sue, Parcell, Kennedy, Batchelor, Linnett, Minchella.
Interchanges: King, Litten, Storton, Hadley.
Wigan: Field; French, King, Wardle, Marshall; Cust, Smith; Havard, Powell, Cooper, Pearce-Paul, Farrell, Smithies.
Interchanges: Singleton, Byrne, Ellis, O'Neill.
Sin Bin: Smithies (57).
Referee: Chris Kendall.
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