Hero Sykes strikes again

Paul Sykes proved the Wakefield hero once more as his late drop goal secured the Wildcats a 31-30 victory over Hull KR at Craven Park.

It was the second week running that Sykes pulled off a game-winning drop-goal after his effort last week had stunned high-flying St Helens.

Seveal former Rovers players now playing for Richard Agar played a key part in the victory, with Ben Cockayne (two), Peter Fox and Frankie Mariano all crossing for tries against their old employers.

The visitors took the lead in the seventh minute through Cockayne, a fans' favourite at Craven Park before his departure midway through last season.

He was sent away by Ali Lauitiiti to score in the left-hand corner but Sykes was unable to turn it in a six-point score, missing the conversion.

Rovers took a while to get going but drew level midway through the half. Mickey Paea, who made an explosive introduction to the game moments before, produced a quality offload to send Liam Salter over for his second try in two games. Michael Dobson, like Sykes, missed the conversion to leave the scores level.

Next set

In their very next set, Rovers took the lead through a creative try down the left flank. Dobson's chip over the top was inch-perfect for David Hodgson, who in turn kicked downfield for Graeme Horne to chase.

The centre won the race to ground the ball but it came at a cost as Richie Mathers clattered into Horne and knocked the tryscorer out. It was Horne's last contribution to the game as he was replaced by Con Mika after several minutes of treatment.

Rovers were enjoying their best spell of the first half and with two minutes remaining Salter scored his second try of the game. At the third time of asking, Dobson found his range and kicked the conversion for a 14-4 lead.

It should have been the half-time score, but Wakefield had less than a minute to come up with something special.

Cockayne broke down the left and won a penalty, leading to Tim Smith kicking to the opposite wing for Fox to score with just one second on the clock against the team that released him at the end of last season. Sykes' conversion dipped under the crossbar to leave the Wildcats trailing 14-8 at the interval.

It took just 19 seconds of the second half for another ex-Robin to cross, Mariano strolling through a massive gap after Richard Silverwood penalised Ben Galea for being offside from the restart.

Cockayne got his second of the game in the 49th minute, getting to Tim Smith's kick quicker than Craig Hall, Sykes' conversion opening up a 20-14 lead for the Wildcats.

In control

Dean Collis' try three minutes later put the visitors in control of the game. Smith was once again the architect with another pinpoint kick to the right-hand corner.

With their grip on eighth place slipping, Rovers had 25 minutes to turn the game around.

Dobson's kick to the posts found Lincoln Withers who managed to ground the ball despite the attention of three Wakefield defenders. His conversion left a converted try separating the two sides, a deficit which was wiped out two minutes later when Galea scored just three days after announcing his plans to retire.

The double strike set up a tense finale and with a vociferous East Stand behind them, Rovers regained the lead through Josh Hodgson.

Hall's delayed pass sent the hooker away for his 14th try of the season but Dobson's conversion hit the upright to give Wakefield a chance.

The Wildcats seized their opportunity, too, Scott Taylor palming the ball into the in-goal area for Kyle Wood to score. Sykes missed the straightforward conversion that would have won the game and with the scores tied at 30-30.

Sykes tried his luck with a drop goal that fell well short before a second attempt, from much closer in, won the game for Wakefield and dropped Rovers out of the play-off places.