Hull KR 14-9 Wakefield Wildcats
A BEN COCKAYNE try gave Hull KR the perfect start to their first Super League game in 13 years, in a fiery encounter at the New Craven Park.
Both sides, widely tipped for a relegation dogfight come the end of the season, fielded teams full of grit and determination.
However, Cockayne stepped up in the dying minutes after great work by Scott Murrell, to complete a superb performance, and send the Rovers fans in to raptures.
It was Hull KR who broke the deadlock early on. The ball was run and flung out to the left wing, where superb, and influential half back Scott Murrell collected the ball and dived over in the corner. Morton added the extras.
It wasnt to be too long lived however, with Wakefield determined to get straight back into it, and it came from the hands of lively hooker Sam Obst. The former Whitehaven number nine collected the ball from the play-the-ball and dived over at short range. Rooney added to make it Six apiece.
The brooding tempers were soon to flare up however. A tempestuous attitude from Wakefield in particular, were to be the start of a temporary downfall.
First of all, a succession of penalities piggy-backed Hull KR into dangerous areas, and finally referee Ashley Klein, awarded a penalty 12 yards out. Captain Webster elected to go for goal, and centre Gareth Morton added the extra two.
Wakefield were soon to go down to 12 men. Tevita Latu the first one to make way for a flare up in centrefield.
This was shortly followed by a deliver of blows from both Richard Moore, and full back Ben Cockayne, who didnt enjoy a rough, but fair challenge from Moore, right on half time. This meant both sides would have at least one player less for the second half, two in the case of Wakefield.
The second half was an even stalemate. Wakefield's defence similar to that experienced towards the end of last season, at the start of John Kear's tenure. Hull KR demonstrated perfect scrambling defence, with both sides making last-ditch tackles to ensure the opposing side was kept out.
On 72 minutes, however Wakefield looked to have snatched a narrow defeat. Jamie Rooney kicking a 40 yard drop goal, to give the Wildcats a slender 9-8 lead.
Six minutes later however, Chester made a fantastic break and switched the ball inside to the full back Cockayne who dived under the grasp of two players to snatch the win at the death. Morton added the extras to complete the score, in a game which either side, in fairness could have won.