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Hull KR v St Helens – highlights
Betfred Super League play-off semi-final
Hull KR (12) 20
Tries: Lewis, Burgess, Gildart 2 Goals: Mourgue 2
St Helens (0) 12
Tries: Cross, Robertson Goals: Lomax 2
Sin-bin: Welsby (12)
Oliver Gildart’s pair of second-half tries propelled Hull KR past St Helens in the Super League play-off semi-final, sustaining their bid for the Treble.
The Robins have secured a Grand Final rematch against Wigan Warriors next Saturday (18:00 BST), following a dominant first-half performance and resilience against a determined Saints comeback.
Mikey Lewis initiated the scoring, with Gildart’s assist setting up Joe Burgess, as Rovers capitalized on favorable winds early on.
Deon Cross responded for Saints after halftime, but Gildart’s double ultimately secured Hull KR’s place at Old Trafford, despite a late try from Harry Robertson.
Both teams entered the match at Craven Park with inconsistent form, Rovers having uncharacteristically lost two of their last five regular-season games.
St Helens, after a 16-day break, gained momentum from a narrow victory over Leeds Rhinos the previous week.
Paul Wellens’ side faced a relentless Robins team that dominated the first half, effectively confining them to their own territory.
When Saints faltered, with Jack Welsby sin-binned for impeding Jez Litten, Hull KR capitalized, with Arthur Mourgue converting the penalty and Lewis scoring his 20th Super League try.
Gildart then played a key role either side of halftime, assisting Burgess and scoring twice himself after Saints threatened a comeback.
St Helens struggled against the Robins’ intensity and the wind, but showed renewed vigor after the break.
Cross’ try, converted by Jonny Lomax, reduced the deficit, but Hull KR regained control as Saints conceded penalties.
Gildart scored a simple try from a Lewis kick and later added another, securing the win despite Robertson’s late effort.
The Robins secured their second consecutive Grand Final appearance, marking a remarkable turnaround just nine years after relegation.
Hull KR coach Willie Peters told BBC TV:
“The second half wasn’t pretty. In the first half I was really happy with how we suffocated the opposition.
“We’re looking forward to the week ahead, and the players deserve it. I can’t wait.
“We’ve been in a Challenge Cup loss and a Grand FInal loss and you always get your best learning when you lose.
“We’ve learned a lot but on-field it will come down to moments and we have to improve on that [performance].
“We’ve got an opportunity to go after the treble and we’re not going to shy away from it, we’re going to go after it and lean into that. It will be a great challenge against a champion side.”
St Helens coach Pail Wellens told BBC TV:
“We’re hugely disappointed that we’ve lost a big game, but congratulations to the opposition, they were the better team on the night.
“In the first 40 minutes they had a real stranglehold on us and didn’t let go of that and at the start of the second half we had a stranglehold on them – but we let go, and that pretty much sums up the game.
“A lot of the stuff we spoke about at half-time we put into action, but then the lads would give a penalty away, or pass the ball off the floor when tackled.
“We put ourselves under unnecessary pressure and you can’t afford to do that when you come to a place like this.”
Hull KR: Mourgue; Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Burgess; Lewis, May; Sue, Litten, Waerea-Hargreaves, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella
Interchanges: Luckley, Whitbread, Martin, Broadbent.
St Helens: Sailor; Bennison, Robertson, Whitley, Cross; Welsby, Lomax; Walmsley, Clark, Lees, Sironen, Wright, Knowles.
Interchanges: Mbye, Bell, Delaney, Stephens.
Referee: Liam Moore.
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