Categories: Other SportsProst InternationalRugbyRugby League

Hull KR turn on the flair as they put Wakefield to the sword

Hull KR run riot as they condemn Wakefield to yet another defeat.

The Robins put on a great attacking performance as they ran in seven tries, including a brace from Tom Opacic.

The headlines pre-match were once again dominated by the Wakefield pitch. A mid-week inspection by the RFL put the game into question, and it was even taken off Sky Sports due to the disruption.

Wakefield came into the game off the back of five straight defeats. The Robins also came into the game in a slump, losing three on the trot too. It set up a tasty affair, with both teams looking to bounce back.

Both teams set their stalls out early. Wakefield started brightly, and looked to get the ball out wide quickly, whereas Hull KR used a more direct approach through the middle, and utilised the boot Mikey Lewis well to get into good positions and force errors.

We didn’t have to wait long for the nights first try. Wakefield debutant Robbie Butterworth was unable to collect Lewis’ kick, and Sam Wood reaped the rewards and crossed over for the first try of the night. This set the tone for the rest of the half.

Louis Senior added the second of the night, after sustained aerial pressure gained Hull KR back the ball deep in Wakefield territory.

They were back again just four minutes later, with the boot of Mikey Lewis again causing Butterworth bother, as he knocked on to gift possession back to the Robins. From the following set, Tom Opacic went over for the Robins third of the half. They had raced into a 0-12 lead.

Wakefield did pose some questions to the Hull KR defence, and turned down an easy chance for points as they searched for a try but were unable to make this position count.

The drama in the half wasn’t over. Loanee Sam Hewitt was shown a yellow card, and Hull KR instantly made the numerical advantage count thanks to Kane Linnett. Lachlan Coote added the extras to make the score 0-18 going into the break.

Hull KR kept up the pressure in the second half. Mikey Lewis’ direct and powerful run earned the Robins fifth, and he was influential for their sixth. He carved open the defence and put the try on a plate for Elliot Minchella. Coote’s success off the tee continued as he made it 0-30.

Wakefield started showing some promise at this point, but it came too late in the day to cause Hull KR any real trouble.

Jai Whitbread crossed over for their only try of the evening, but they could easily have scored two more during a solid 10 minute period for them; however the Robins held them out.

Hull were able to add to the scoreboard one last time through Opacic to round of an impressive attacking display.

Willie Peters gave his thoughts on the win, saying: “It’s always tough coming to Wakefield. They were searching for that first win and we didn’t want it to be us, so we knew we were going to be in a fight tonight. I was really pleased with the first 20 minutes. I thought we set a platform and the foundations that first 20.”

Mark Applegarth also spoke to the media about the game, saying “I thought that first half was very frustrating. Basically Hull KR did to us exactly to us what we wanted to do to them. I thought we got rolled a little bit too easy, they got the field position a bit too easy.”