Hull KR see off Broncos to go second

Betfred Super League

Hull KR (16) 40

Tries: Sue, Hall, Lewis 3, Parcell, Tanginoa Goals: Richardson 6

London (6) 16

Tries: Bienik, Rourke, Macani Goals: Leyland 2

Mikey Lewis scored a hat-trick as Hull KR beat Super League basement side London Broncos to move up to second in the table.

The Robins raced into an early 16-0 lead through Ryan Hall’s 250th Super League try, and scores from Sauaso Sue and Lewis.

London roared back as Lewis Bienik’s storming score before the break and Josh Rourke’s fine try immediately after it cut the gap to four points.

But Matt Parcell eased the nerves before Lewis scored twice and Kelepi Tanginoa crossed to seal a 14th Super League win of the season despite Iliess Macani's consolation try.

With Warrington thumping Wigan to go top, a seventh victory in eight lifted Rovers above the Warriors into second place on points difference, with all of the top three level on 28 points.

At the other end, an 18th defeat in 19 outings and eighth straight reverse leaves London four points adrift of Hull at the bottom.

After a ruthless opening, the Robins were hit and miss for the next 50 minutes and will know a more complete performance is needed when they head to new leaders Warrington next Friday.

Mikey Lewis' hat-trick took his Super League try tally for the season to 12

Hall hits new landmark but Lewis steals the show

Rovers were in front inside five minutes when Sue spun out of a weak tackle to barge over from close range.

Hall, who last month became Super League’s all-time leading try scorer, quickly added a new feat when he easily outjumped Hakim Miloudi to collect a pinpoint Lewis cross-field kick.

His 330rd senior career try drew him level with Garry Schofield in 20th in the list of all-time British scorers and took him to 1,000 Super League points.

The Broncos looked all at sea by the time Lewis glided through the middle of a disjointed defence untouched to put the hosts 16-0 up in as many minutes.

Yet London’s defence grew in confidence and application as the Robins lost their cutting edge.

They then stunned the hosts with their first attack of note just before the break, former Hull FC prop Bienik smashing a hole through the defence and carrying Lewis and Matty Storton with him over the line.

Oli Leyland’s brilliant touchline conversion incredibly cut the gap to 10 points as the hooter sounded for half-time.

The buoyant Broncos sensed a massive upset three minutes after the break when Rourke cut a brilliant line to scorch past Dean Hadley for his fourth try in four appearances.

The Broncos piled on the pressure with some swashbuckling, expansive rugby, but the home anxiety was eased when Macani twice made a hash of collecting Danny Richardson’s high kick to gift Parcell a touch down.

Lewis weaved his way past five defenders for his second try before Tanginoa’s angled run to the line cut a swathe through the tiring Broncos.

Macani atoned for his earlier error by reaching Rourke’s kick over the top as London fought to the end, but Lewis had the last word, capping a wonderful display by retrieving a stray kick to race clear.

Hull KR head coach Willie Peters told BBC Radio Humberside:

“It wasn’t our best performance of the year, but I thought London were outstanding. The scoreline certainly didn’t indicate how close the game was.

“At 16-0 up we could have gone on with that and then they could have blown out, but they really hung in there.

“I thought Mikey Lewis was the difference tonight - he was outstanding. So if we don’t have Mikey tonight, who knows what might have happened in that game.”

London Broncos director of rugby Mike Eccles:

“I thought we were excellent until the final 15-20 minutes. We were right in the game.

“There were just some tries there that were so avoidable. The way that we dealt with kicks cost us the game.

“It was right in the balance but we hurt ourselves. But there are loads of positives. When we got the game to where we did, we were right in it.”

Hull KR: Evalds, Burgess, Hiku, Gildart, Hall, Richardson, Lewis, Sue, Litten, Whitbread, Storton, Batchelor, Hadley.

Interchanges: Parcell, Luckley, Tanginoa, Brown.

London: Rourke, Miloudi, Natoli, Bassett, Macani, Leyland, Campagnolo, Butler, S. Davis, Kennedy, Lovell, Adebiyi, Jones.

Interchanges: Parata, Tison, Stock, Bienek.

Referee: Tom Grant.