-
7 March 2025, 22:05 GMT
Betfred Super League
St Helens (6) 10
Tries: Sironen, Welsby Goals: Percival
Hull KR (10) 20
Tries: Lewis, Davies, Gildart 2 Goals: Lewis 2
Hull KR kept up their unbeaten record in Super League this term as they inflicted a first defeat of the season on St Helens following a bruising battle at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
Mikey Lewis marked his return to action with an early Hull KR try but Saints hit back after 30 minutes when Curtis Sironen touched down.
Tom Davies tipped the game back in the visitors’ favour with a dive to the corner shortly before half-time, and they padded out their lead through Oliver Gildart’s pair of tries within two minutes.
Jack Welsby went over to bridge the gap for the hosts but it was too little too late as Hull KR claimed a statement two points and moved to the top of the table.
In a season filled with so many high-quality games, this fixture between two hotly tipped rivals did not disappoint.
Saints were shown their first real test having set the pace with some classy performances in 2025, but Hull KR’s resolute defence and blistering attack showed their credentials for another run at silverware this term.
The visitors prospered following some wayward defence and kicking from Saints in the early stages, and, after Kyle Feldt’s clearance from a high kick fell into his path, Lewis made no mistake in crashing over to edge the Robins in front.
Lewis, who has scored tries in his past five consecutive meetings with St Helens, could not add the extras as he scuffed his kick and hit the post – and there was more bad luck for the reigning Man of Steel soon after.
Hull KR continued to threaten and after Gildart put in a sensational last-ditch offload towards him, Lewis could not keep hold of his quickfire pass and dropped the ball to miss out on what would have been a certain second try.
Saints worked their way into the game and were rewarded off the back of Jack Welsby’s sensational weighted grubber kick into the path of Sironen, who crossed with ease.
The hosts’ slim lead did not last long as Davies’ acrobatic finish, which came courtesy of some great work from full-back Jack Broadbent in the lead up, sent them in at the break with a four-point cushion after Lewis curled in the conversion.
There was a blow for Hull KR after a thrilling first half, however, as Dean Hadley failed a head injury assessment having come off the field after 25 minutes.
Gildart gave Hull KR a commanding lead in the second half with two tries, both coming in combination with Joe Burgess. First, when Burgess collected Lewis’ kick to tee the centre up in the corner, and then again soon after with a swift race down the left wing as he sent him through having torn Saints’ defence wide open.
A bruising second half continued and Saints clawed down the deficit when Welsby crossed for a third try in three games, but Percival missed the kick that followed and Rovers held out to register back-to-back wins at St Helens for the first time in the post-war era.
St Helens boss Paul Wellens told BBC Radio Merseyside:
“What tonight’s shown us is where we’re at. It’s the type of game we needed to give us an indication on where we are.
“Where we’re at, I feel, is not far off but not quite where we need to be yet. It’s obviously disappointing that we’ve lost a game at home but we can identify where we need to improve, particularly in big games against the better sides in the competition.
“We struggled for territory in the first 25 minutes or so, but I thought the way we held up their defence was excellent and really encouraging for us moving forward.”
Hull KR assistant coach Danny Ward told BBC Radio Humberside:
“It’s an unbelievable effort. The first half was as good as we’ve played all year defensively. We pride ourselves on our defence. The way we attacked with our defence in the first half set us up for the game.
“The whole team went after them defensively and there was some resilience at the end when Saints were throwing everything at us.
“We really dug in against a quality Saints side, so it’s a really pleasing performance.”
St Helens: Welsby; Feldt, Robertson, Percival, Bennison; Sailor, Lomax; Walmsley, D Clark, Delaney, Sironen, Batchelor, Knowles.
Interchanges: Whitley, Paasi, Wingfield, Stephens.
Hull KR: Broadbent; Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Burgess; Lewis, May; Sue, McIlorum, Waerea-Hargreaves, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella.
Interchanges: Litten, Luckley, Whitbread, Tanginoa.
Referee: Jack Smith.
