Hull KR see off Catalan Dragons to hold firm in Super League top five
Hull KR ran in four first-half tries to beat Catalan Dragons 28-10 at Craven Park on Thursday night, a result that keeps them fifth in the Betfred Super League table.
The home side led 22-6 at the break after a blistering opening 40 minutes in which the game was effectively decided. Jack Broadbent crossed for two tries, with Jez Litten, Joe Burgess and Tyrone May adding one each. Martin landed four goals to keep the scoreboard ticking over. BBC Sport
For those new to rugby league, a try is the equivalent of a rugby union try — grounding the ball over the opponents' try line — worth four points, with a goal (kicked conversion) adding two more. Six tackles per possession means teams work through their sets, building field position before kicking to the opposition; the scoring in this match reflected Hull KR's ability to turn territory and possession into points while Catalan struggled to do the same.
Catalan's first-half response was limited. Charlie Staines provided a bright moment with a solo try — beating defenders on his own to reach the line — and Aispuro-Bichet added the goal, but the French side trailed by 16 at the interval and never looked like closing the gap.
The Dragons were unable to mount a second-half comeback. Tommy Makinson scored seven minutes from time, but it was consolation rather than the spark of a revival. Hull KR's defence held firm, and the home side saw out the match without further alarm. BBC Sport
The victory keeps Hull KR fifth in Super League, two points behind Wakefield and Warrington, who sit above them in the table. With the play-off picture tightening as the season enters its closing rounds, every point matters — and Hull KR's clinical first-half showing here was exactly the kind of performance that keeps a side in the mix.
Thursday night's match, broadcast live on Sky Sports, was the latest round of a Super League campaign (the top-flight rugby league competition in England and France) that continues to deliver tight battles throughout the table. Super League
For Catalan, the long trip home from east Yorkshire brings more questions than answers. The Dragons have been a force in the south of France since joining the competition in 2006, but nights like this — where the first half slips away before the team finds its footing — have hurt them on the road this season.
Hull KR, meanwhile, keep their noses in front of the chasing pack. Five rounds remain to settle who reaches the play-offs, and on this evidence, their attack is firing at the right time.
