Rovers see off Reds
Hull KR claimed a place in the Carnegie Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a 25-0 victory at Salford.
Last Updated: 20/05/11 10:21pm
Hull KR claimed a place in the Carnegie Challenge Cup quarter-finals but this was a much closer contest than the scoreline suggests.
Blake Green gave the visitors the edge after 39 fiercely-contested minutes at the Willows, before a Ben Cockayne score and Kris Welham's 16th try of the season gave them some breathing space.
Even then Rovers needed to defend resolutely and only when Michael Dobson added a late drop-goal could they relax.
Jake Webster ran in for their fourth try just before the final hooter and Dobson took his night's tally to nine points with the goal.
The first period looked set to end scoreless, but Green's try finally broke the deadlock and Rovers tightened their grip with a professional display after the break.
Rovers had the game's first opening after Stephen Wild lost possession and Rhys Lovegrove gathered but the attack came to nothing, while Salford threatened before a Stefan Ratchford kick ran dead.
Green beat the defence to set up Scott Wheeldon close to the line but the attack was halted for a forward pass.
Salford responded as Jodie Broughton got away from Webster out wide but Matty Smith then overhit a kick.
Green got back to gather a dangerous kick and Broughton was pulled back after a forward pass by Ratchford, as Salford increased the pressure.
Webster thought he had opened the scoring when he crashed over after 29 minutes but another of Green's passes was adjudged forward.
Broughton led Salford's next charge but knocked on close to the line and Rovers finally broke the deadlock with just a minute of the first half remaining, as Joel Clinton was held up over the line and the ball was quickly spun out wide for Green to touch down.
Momentum
Dobson converted and Rovers carried some momentum into the second half as they swept downfield to double their lead three minutes after the restart.
This time Salford were caught out as Dobson and Ben Galea both got involved, before Cockayne sprinted away to the line.
Adam Clay was unfortunate to lose an opportunity to reply for the Reds when the ball bounced awkwardly in front of him but Rovers upped the tempo to take a firm grip on the contest.
Welham, continuing his superb campaign, claimed the next try by successfully diving for the line under pressure after being set up by playmaker Dobson.
Dobson added his third goal and the scrum-half showed his defensive skills soon afterwards by producing a fine tackle to deny the powerful Vinnie Anderson close to the line.
Rovers' defence then muscled up to bundle Broughton into touch five metres out and Dobson put the game out of reach with a one-pointer, before Webster went in behind the posts to seal Rovers' third successive win.
