Wakefield 18-6 Hull KR: Trinity secure Super League status

Correspondent 25 Aug 2022 9:51 PM

Wakefield secured their Super League status for another year with a hard-fought 18-6 victory over Hull KR at Belle Vue.

Trinity trailed 6-0 at the interval. However, they clinched a fourth win in their last five matches thanks to second-half tries from wingers Lee Kershaw and Lewis Murphy and full-back Max Jowitt.

Murphy provided the highlight with an acrobatic trademark finish to register his eighth try in the last five games just days after being called up for England Knights’ end-of-season games against France B and Scotland.

Popular forward David Fifita wrapped up the scoring with the final conversion on his final home appearance as he prepares to end his seven-year stint with the club.

Wakefield’s status had effectively been secured 900 miles away in the south of France, where a first-half hat-trick of tries from winger Fouad Yaha put Catalans Dragons on their way to a 24-14 over Toulouse in the French derby, but at least they managed to end their home campaign on a high.

It was also a fitting way for Tinirau Arona to bow out in his final appearance at Belle Vue.

Match report

Hull KR were a patched-up team. Mikey Lewis, a specialist half-back, pressed into the club’s fourth different full-back in the last four weeks in the continuing absence of Lachlan Coote and Will Dagger

Rovers had most of the possession in the first half. But chances were few and far between with both sides lacking creativity.

The only try was scored by Hull KR prop Albert Vete, moments after replacing George King. Vete forced his way over from close range and scrum-half Rowan Milnes added the conversion.

That stung Trinity into producing their best rugby of the half as half-backs Jacob Miller and Mason Lino began to impose themselves.

Hull KR suffered a double blow just before half-time. Centre Jimmy Keinhorst was sin-binned for a trip on Miller, and Lewis had to be helped from the field after being dazed trying to prevent Miller touching down.

HT: Wakefield 0-6 Hull KR

The visitors managed to keep their line intact while down to 12 men but were breached on 50 minutes when Jowitt’s long pass found the busy Kershaw with enough space to cross at the corner.

Jowitt converted the try to level the scores and Kershaw went close again before Murphy sealed the victory on 67 minutes, collecting Lino’s cut-out pass and producing an acrobatic finish at the corner.

Jowitt kicked his second touchline conversion and put the seal on an impressive second-half display by finishing off some smart work from Murphy for his side’s third try, which was converted from out wide by Fifita.