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22/05/09
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New Craven Park
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G Hewer
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Castleford Tigers
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16 - 6
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Shaun Briscoe claimed two tries as Hull Kingston Rovers maintained the pressure at the engage Super League summit with a hard-fought win over Castleford Tigers tonight.
The Rovers full-back touched down twice in the second half of a tense encounter at Craven Park, settling the game with his second 11 minutes from time.
Winger and fellow England hopeful Peter Fox opened the scoring for Rovers but Castleford kept themselves in contention through Mitchell Sargent.
The Tigers, strong in defence throughout, might feel the game could even have been closer had they not been denied a penalty try late in the first half.
The hosts looked sharp in attack but were continually frustrated by the Cas rearguard and led only 4-0 at the end of a tight first half.
Those points came courtesy of Fox’s first try in five outings after just five minutes.
The Tigers conceded two penalties in quick succession to allow the hosts to advance and they were punished further as Briscoe found space to send Fox over in the corner.
It was a welcome touchdown for the England hopeful whose barren spell came after his first 11 games of the season yielded nine tries.
Michael Dobson was unable to convert from the touchline but Rovers kept up the pressure and went close again as a Dobson kick almost put in Liam Colbon.
Dobson and Scott Murrell were then both stopped short by desperate Castleford defence and a powerful break by Kris Welham was halted only by a fine Michael Shenton tackle.
Cas wasted a good chance when Brett Ferres knocked on close to the line while the Tigers appealed for a penalty try after Kirk Dixon was impeded by Fox out wide.
Referee Gareth Hewer gave only a standard penalty and the Rovers defence held firm.
Hull KR extended their advantage three minutes into the second half when a well-weighted kick from the ever-probing Dobson bounced perfectly for Briscoe to dive over under the posts.
Dobson’s straightforward conversion gave Rovers a healthy cushion but Cas produced the perfect response as they powered forward to force a hole in the home defence.
Sargent finished the move as he barged over from close range and Dixon added the extras.
Yet still defences remained on top with Castleford’s, in particular, working overtime to cope with the sustained threat of Dobson.
Chev Walker, making his first appearance for Rovers after two months out, also drove close to the Tigers line.
The former Great Britain international managed to offload after being stopped just short but the chance was lost as Ben Fisher knocked on.
Perseverance eventually paid off for Rovers as veteran Stanley Gene burst through with 11 minutes remaining to relieve the tension by setting up Briscoe.
Dobson converted and Rovers duly played out time to secure their fifth successive league win. |
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Briscoe, Fox, Webster, Welham, Colbon, Cockayne, Dobson, Fozzard, Fitzhenry, Newton, Walker, Galea, Murrell.
Replacements: Aizue, Fisher, Wheeldon, Gene.
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Ford, Wainwright, Shenton, Evans, Dixon, Faumuina, Sherwin, Sargent, Chase, Higgins, Ferres, Jones, Westerman.
Replacements: Huby, Clayton, Feather, Boyle.
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