Round 12
Hull KR 22 l. Leeds Rhinos 36

2008 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: engage English Super League

Rovers register second record crowd this season
Sat April 26, 2008
Source: http://www.hullkr.co.uk

As the newly completed East stand extension was opened in time for the engage Super League clash between Hull KR and Leeds Rhinos last night, Craven Park registered a record crowd for the second time this season.

A record crowd of 9,284 at the New Craven Park was set earlier in the year as Hull Kingston Rovers took on city rivals Hull FC on Good Friday March 21st, and as the Robins break the attendance figure for the second time recording a fantastic 9,391crowd, praise certainly goes to all fans that attended.

"It was great to witness the additional fans in the East Stand and as always our fans really got behind the team. Seeing the South Stand full of Leeds supporters was also very pleasing, we realise that we need to improve upon the facilities that we have for the visiting teams which is a priority within our re-development programme," stated Hull Kingston Rovers Chief Executive.

He went on to say: "Huge thanks must go to the 1,200+ Leeds supporters that travelled to Craven Park on Friday night. The atmosphere at the game was electric and credit goes to both sets of fans."

News sent by: http://www.hullkr.co.uk


Leeds survive Robins fightback
Sat April 26, 2008
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Injury-hit Leeds Rhinos survived a second-half fightback from Hull KR to gain a very credible 36-22 win at Craven Park and extend their advantage at the top of the engage Super League table to six points.

Brian McClennan's side overcame a poor first-half showing to lead 24-10 at the hour mark, but saw play-off chasing Rovers come back to within two points of them before veteran Keith Senior put the game to bed with 13 minutes to go.

It was of huge credit to Leeds that they dismissed the absence of five international players to gain a 10th win of the season against a Robins side who remain on the fringes of the top six.

Justin Morgan's men now face an anxious wait to determine whether or not a wrist injury suffered by James Webster will rule him out of next weekend's Millennium Magic event.

Scrum-half Rob Burrow was a vital cog in Leeds' renaissance here, scoring a try either side of the break to swing the momentum in favour of the Rhinos in front of a record 9,391 crowd in East Hull.

The Rhinos started the game with star forward Jamie Peacock on the bench but still escaped from the first half in the lead despite being outplayed for large parts.

They started brightly but spent the majority of the opening quarter on the back foot as the home side deservedly went ahead through David Mills in the 15th minute.

Stanley Gene had already created fine yet wasted opportunities for Ben Cockayne and Jake Webster by the time the try came, whilst Ben Fisher also went close with a jinking run.

But Paul Cooke fired a bullet pass into the chest of Mills, who battered his way over the line.

Cooke added the extras but Leeds soon made Cockayne pay for a lack of concentration as Brent Webb nipped into a gap vacated by the centre to pull his side back into the equation, with Kevin Sinfield's goal levelling the scores.

Two penalties from Cooke nosed Rovers back ahead, only for Burrow to dance his way through the home defence just seconds before the interval for a try against the run of play. Sinfield slotted a second goal to send Leeds in ahead.

They carried their upturn in fortunes into the second period too as Kylie Leuluai opened the half with a fine try which owed as much to his own endurance as it did to the two penalties which allowed his team to get close to the posts.

Burrow quickly swooped for a second try minutes later when he capitalised on Ben Galea's fumble to race free to the corner, but despite Sinfield's fourth conversion opening up a 14-point lead, Rovers roared back into the game as Scott Murrell dragged his body over the line for a gritty try.

Murrell and Peter Fox - two ex-Leeds players - then combined superbly to create a third home try. There appeared to be little on as Murrell chipped a kick into open space, but Fox rose the highest above Scott Donald to collect the ball and ground. Cooke converted to bring the scores to 24-22.

But with the momentum with Rovers, Senior - the league's record appearance maker - showed all his experience to chisel his way over the line, before Matt Diskin added a sixth try with three minutes to go.

Sinfield ended the night with an impeccable six goals from as many attempts.

Report source: www.superleague.co.uk

Article: McClennan pleased by performance

Thu April 24, 2008
• Headingley Insight: Leeds v Hull KR
  

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