Hall sets try record as Hull KR beat Huddersfield

Betfred Super League

Hull KR (10) 32

Tries: Hiku 2, May, Parcell, Hall 2 Goals: Lewis 4

Huddersfield (6) 6

Tries: Marsters Goals: Russell

Ryan Hall scored a record-breaking 248th Super League try as Hull KR fought back to beat Huddersfield 32-6 at Craven Park.

Ethan Marsters’ early try and an Olly Russell penalty put Huddersfield ahead before Tyrone May teed up a levelling score for Peta Hiku and then produced a brilliant finish to give Rovers a 10-6 lead at the break.

Matt Parcell’s early second-half score and a second Mikey Lewis goal quickly extended the lead to 10 points and Hiku’s second try sealed victory as the Giants wilted.

Huddersfield had Andre Savelio sent off 70 minutes into his debut for an off-the-ball clash with Elliot Minchella before two tries in as many minutes took Hall past Danny McGuire as Super League's all-time leading try scorer.

A sixth successive home win keeps Rovers in third, level with second-placed St Helens and within two points of leaders Wigan Warriors who narrowly squeezed past Castleford Tigers.

Huddersfield remain four points outside the play-off places in eighth after a fifth defeat in six Super League outings.

Hall had gone scoreless in three Super League matches since moving within one of McGuire’s mark of 247 tries against St Helens on 4 May.

The 36-year-old winger looked like he may have to wait another week to match his former Leeds Rhinos team-mate’s mark, but on 73 minutes, and with the game already won, he collected Mikey Lewis's grubber kick to move level with McGuire.

And with just two minutes left, Lewis’s cut-out pass sent Hall racing away into the history books.

It sparked euphoria in the stands, and a poignant celebration from the record breaker as Hall pointed to the sky in honour of his former team-mate Rob Burrows.

The feat in itself was a fitting tribute to the Leeds great just a week after his death.

Huddersfield were on the back foot from kick-off, but hit the front when Marsters intercepted May’s looping pass and sprinted the length of the pitch to score.

Home frustrations intensified when a third penalty conceded in quick succession gave Russell a simple penalty.

Both sides trade mistakes and penalties during a high-intensity first half, and when Jake Bibby coughed up possession within metres of his own line, team-mate Adam Milner was sent to the sin-bin for tackling Lewis as he chased his own kick through.

While much of Rovers’ pre-match focus was given to Hall as he chased the elusive score, it was two pieces of sublime skill from May that finally gave Rovers the initiative shortly before the break.

After Elliot Minchella was held up under the posts, Rovers finally exploited their man advantage when May slid through an angled grubber kick for Hiku to cross unchallenged.

May was then involved in a flowing Rovers move before capping it with a flying one-handed finish in the right corner.

Rovers put the hammer down straight after the restart, keeping the ball alive superbly for Parcell to exchange passes with Dean Hadley before the hooker’s arcing run took him to the line.

May was once again influential in Rovers’ decisive fourth try, his break and neat offload allowing Niall Evalds to burst clear and feed Hiku for his second score of the night.

With victory secure, all that was left to add was the gloss - and Hall duly obliged.

Hull KR: Evalds, Broadbent, Hiku, Opacic, Hall, May, Lewis, Sue, Litten, Whitbread, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella.

Interchanges: Parcell, Luckley, Storton, Tanginoa.

Huddersfield: Lolohea, Halsall, Marsters, Naiqama, Bobby, Russell, Clune, Hill, Milner, Greenwood, Hewitt, Rushton, Yates.

Interchanges: Golding, Wilson, Savelio, Ikahihifo.

Sin-bin: Milner (27).

Sent-off: Savelio (70).

Referee: Tom Grant.