Giants cut down to size

Australian stand-off Michael Dobson inspired Hull KR to their best result of the season to date as they shocked Huddersfield 40-22 at New Craven Park.

Dobson had five assists and kicked six goals as a run of 24 unanswered points took Rovers clear after they had trailed 18-6.

The Giants - who had lost just once before this season - took a grip on the game with converted tries from Luke George, Scott Grix and Greg Eden in the opening 18 minutes.

Liam Watts had replied for Rovers before they reeled off four unanswered tries either side of half-time. Dave Hodgson got the ball rolling on 35 minutes before Kris Welham, Josh Hodgson and Scott Taylor crashed over in a match-winning burst.

The Giants opened the scoring in the fourth minute through George's 10th try of a very productive season.

The winger left Lincoln Withers in his wake as he touched down in the left corner. Danny Brough made the touchline conversion look easy to give Huddersfield a 6-0 lead.

Eden and Dave Hodgson played pivotal roles in the next try of the game that got Rovers level on the scoreboard. Eden gathered Dobson's high bomb and in his attempt to avoid conceding a goal line drop out, Dave Hodgson forced the ball loose for Watts to pounce on for an easy score.

Rovers will not have appreciated the blatant forward pass that sent George away in the build-up to Huddersfield's second try that was finished off by Grix in the left-hand corner and Brough made it 12-6 with another assured conversion.

Huddersfield capitalised on sloppy defending by the home side in the 18th minute when Eden got the better of Graeme Horne for the Giants' third try of the game, although Brough missed the kick from close to his left hand touchline.

Rovers hit back in the final five minutes of the first half after Welham won a penalty and Dobson sent a long cut-out pass for returning winger Dave Hodgson to score against his former club.

Dobson's conversion sailed through the uprights and two minutes before the interval, Rovers were level.

Another fine pass from Dobson created confusion in the Giants defence for Welham to score. Dobson's trusty left boot sent the sides in at the break level at 18-18.

Momentum

Momentum remained with Rovers at the start of the second half when they took the lead for the first time in the 44th minute.

Once again Dobson was involved as it was his pass on the blind side that sent Josh Hodgson over for his fifth try of the season. Dobson added the extras for a 24-18 lead.

Rovers were in control at both ends of the pitch and their defence to prevent George from scoring in the 51st minute was celebrated like a try after Jordan Cox and Shannon McDonnell pounded the winger into touch.

Rovers extended their lead in the 55th minute when Dobson's fourth assist of the game sent Taylor over for a try his performance deserved.

The game could have been put out of Huddersfield's reach in the 57th minute had McDonnell not dropped Scott Murrell's pass after the stand-off's break down the middle.

In response, Shaun Lunt strolled through some poor tackling by Welham and Dave Hodgson and Brough's conversion rebounded off the upright to leave eight points between the sides at 30-22.

Rovers settled it in the 70th minute when Con Mika's brilliant behind-the-back pass sent Sam Latus away for the decisive score.

Huddersfield's best chance to get back in the game came three minutes from time when Jermaine McGillvary knocked on trying to offload two metres from Rovers' line.

Rovers completed the scoring when Mickey Paea took Dobson's fifth assist of the game over for his side's seventh try of the game, with Dobson fittingly adding the extras.