Sheffield v Hull KR
Hull Kingston Rovers maintained their unbeaten run in the Super League qualifiers with a 38-28 success over Sheffield Eagles at Bramall Lane.
The top-flight side were made to work hard for their victory after a spirited effort from the hosts, whose faint chances of making a late surge into fifth place were all but extinguished on their return to their home city.
The Robins remain top of the qualifiers after their fifth consecutive victory.
Rovers boss Chris Chester made several changes to his side, who confirmed their place in Super League next season with victory over Bradford Bulls last weekend.
His re-jigged side were slow out of the traps as Mark Aston's Sheffield showed the greater desire in the opening exchanges, and the hosts deservedly took the lead when Eddie Battye grounded the ball over the whitewash at full stretch after a pass from Keal Carlile, with Pat Walker kicking the extras.
Rovers eventually showed their Super League credentials when Ken Sio went over in the corner for the first of his three tries, but Kieran Dixon missed the conversion.
The visitors failed to capitalise on Eagles' John Davies being in the bin after a dangerous tackle on Matthew Marsh, but with five minutes remaining of the first half they took control with two quick-fire tries.
First, Maurice Blair brushed aside Dave Petersen to score, before Sio bagged his second of the match after grounding Blair's high kick to the corner. Dixon converted both tries.
Sheffield showed guts to cut the deficit soon after the interval when Menzie Yere's clever pass on the inside presented winger Ryan Miller with a simple try and Dominic Brambani kicked the extras.
Any hopes of a major shock were quickly dampened as the Robins stepped up their game with three unanswered tries. Just before the hour mark Adam Walker barged his way over the line and soon after Kris Welham sprinted down the left before diving over in the corner, with both tries converted by Dixon.
The visitors then effectively sealed the game when Marsh added further gloss to the scoreline, taking advantage of a tiring defence before dancing over the line with a jinking run. Dixon was unable to add the extras this time.
Sheffield did not throw in the towel, though, and brought some respectability to the scoreline with a strong finish to the game. The sprightly Miller was a constant threat and he bagged his second try of the evening when Sio's error presented the youngster with a simple run-in, but Walker missed the extras.
The final word went to the hosts when Miller again showed a turn of pace to support Cory Aston's break, before surging over the line to complete his hat-trick, which Walker converted
