Dobson villain in Hull KR defeat
Former Wigan star Michael Dobson scored four tries as Hull KR beat Wigan 39-22 at Craven Park.
Two tries from George Carmont had helped Wigan to a 16-10 lead at half-time.
And despite extending their lead to 22-10, the Robins hit the Warriors with a stunning fightback to score 29 unanswered points including a hat-trick from Dobson, to add to a try he scored in the first-half.
The travelling Wigan fans were stunned as their team capitulated under an onslaught from the Robins, with Dobson the star of the show.
The result - and the manner of the loss - could not have come at a worse time: Wigan play Super League high-flyers St Helens this Friday night.
Hull KR were quick out of the blocks and took 4-0 lead in the fifth minute when hooker Kirk Netherton darted past Andy Coley from dummy-half to score a close-range try. Paul Cooke missed a relatively easy conversion.
Wigan responded positively, pinning the Robins in their own half, and Micky Higham went close to scoring as he raced through a gaping hole in the home side's defensive line only to lose the ball when tackled by full-back Daniel Fitzhenry.
Noble's troops were controlling the ball well, as Thomas Leuluai sliced through the Robins' line and - from the next tackle - half-back partner Trent Barrett's brilliant cut-out pass sent Joel Tomkins clear, the second rower turning on the afterburners from 40m out to beat the chasing Stanley Gene.
Pat Richards' conversion swung wide to keep the score at 4-4.
Wigan were playing intelligently and were being well-marshalled by half-backs Leuluai and Barrett.
On the rare occasion that Hull KR got into Wigan's half, two penalties eased the Warriors' passage back up field and elusive centre George Carmont touched down a 23rd minute try from a neat Leuluai pass.
Richards was successful with the goal, making it 10-4 in their favour.
But the Robins roared back into the match three minutes later, hooker Ben Fisher scattering defenders with a midfield dash and, from that position, Dobson showed his old club no mercy with a neat solo try from 10m out.
Cooke's goal drew the scores level, but Wigan were back ahead in the 33rd minute after Gareth Hock battered his way between two defenders from 40m out and had the presence of mind to find Carmont supporting on his inside to gift the former Samoa skipper his second try of the match.
Richards duly tagged on the extras to make it 16-10 in the Warriors' favour and, despite frantic attempts by both sides, that's how the score remained until half-time.
As Noble took his seat for the second-half his side had already extended their lead. O'Loughlin offloaded the ball inside his own half and the supporting Richards eased past his opposite full-back to score a superb try that he converted, making it 22-10.
But the home side, cheered on by the majority of the 8,481 crowd, refused to give up and showed their determination when Dobson dragged Higham over the line with him to claim his second try, Cooke's goal reducing the deficit to six points.
Wigan lost their cool from the restart, conceding two back-to-back penalties to put themselves under pressure but Barrett dealt with Dobson's probing kick.
The warning signs were there, though, and there was almost a sense of inevitability when winger Jon Steel evaded Leuluai to touch down in the corner for a try that Cooke expertly converted to draw the scores level in the 52nd minute.
Dobson, who had been criticised by some for his performances since joining the Robins in mid-season, was certainly on form against his old club.
His astute kicking helped the home side force two goal-line drop outs and then he claimed his hat-trick try from a neat chip and re-gather on the hour. Cooke converted, and Hull KR had the lead for the first time since the ninth minute.
That try swelled the Robins' confidence. Wigan just couldn't get the ball or get out of their own half, and Dobson extended their lead to 29-22 with a dropgoal in the 63rd minute.
On the rare occasion that the Warriors did get into an attacking position, Hock spilled the ball and then conceded a penalty as he threw the ball away in anger.
Wigan's attempts to snatch a victory never materialised against a home side that finished the game with more energy.
And after Leuluai lost the ball inside his own half, Dobson crossed for his fourth try.
The Warriors defence was crumbling and the Robins rounded off the game when Dobson sent Rhys Lovegrove over to make it 39-22.
Hull KR: Fitzhenry; Steel, Welham, Webster, Lovegrove; Galea, Dobson; Crossman, Netherton, Mills, Vella, Gene, Cooke. Subs: L'anson, Aizue, Netherton, Fisher.
Wigan: Richards; Calderwood, Goulding, Carmont, Phelps; Barrett, Leuluai; Fielden, Higham, Coley, Hansen, Tomkins, Hock. Subs: McIlorum, Colbon, O'Loughlin, Paleaaesina.
Referee: Ian Smith.
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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