Fourth placed St Helens had their eyes on second spot as
they faced a top placed Hull KR side who are suffering from a bout of the late
season wobbles heading into the play-offs and as a result it was the visitors
who were favourites with the bookmarkers, handed a four-point handicap on the
coupon.

The Robins have lost their least two games, both against
play-off hopefuls in Leeds Rhinos and the Wigan Warriors while Saints are on a four-game
winning streak as they hit their straps coming into the business end of the
season.

Hull KR won the meeting between the two sides in May by 34-4
along with the first meeting between the two sides in March, that one by the
score line of 20-10, a win tonight would be sweet revenge and would lift Saints
within four points of the champions elect.

Saints took the game to Hull KR in the opening stages and a
swinging arm from Rhyse Martin on Morgan Knowles saw the KR man sin-binned on
seven minutes.

Minutes after Martin returned, George Delaney was sin-binned
for a high tackle, Saints turn to spend ten minutes with a man down.

The game was being bossed by two strong defences, neither
side able to engineer a scoring opportunity.

Martin went close to scoring the opener on twenty-seven, but
he was tackled short of the line, the ball kept in the air by the defenders and
the video referee agreeing with the on field official.

Two minutes later James Batchelor jumped to take a high kick
and as he went for the line the ball slopped from his grasp, another missed
opportunity.

An off the ball challenge by Joe Batchelor, uncovered by a captain’s
challenge, gave Martin the opportunity to get the first points of the game on
thirty-three minutes.

With two minutes of the half remaining Saints were awarded a
penalty for ruck interference, Mark Percival kicking the two points to level
the scores going into the break.

A shoulder from Batchelor led to another penalty to St
Helens just three minutes after the restart, Martin kicking to goal to edge the
home side back into a two-point lead. Another penalty, another Martin penalty
on fifty-four added another two to the Hull KR total.

As the hour approached Martin kicked a fourth goal, another
penalty this one for a second effort in the tackle, put KR six points ahead.

A Mikey Lewis 40-20 on sixty-five marched his side downfield.
On the third play Lewis turned provider as his pass found Joe Burgess to dove in
at the corner. Martin was just wide with his conversion attempt.

Four minutes from time Deon Cross chased a Jack Welsby
grubber and won the chase to get one hand on the ball to ground. Percival added
a tricky looking kick from the touchline, the margin down to four points.

A nervy last few minutes remained scoreless and Hull KR took
the points after a battle royal.

Hull KR take an important step towards the minor premiership
with this crucial win, they are now just a win away from lifting the league
leaders shield and can do it against their arch enemy from the other side of
the city next weekend. Saints are still not mathematically guaranteed the top
six, but with their massive points difference advantage it is unlikely that
they will drop out of the play off places.

Hull KR: Mourgue, Davies, Hiku, Broadbent, Burgess (T),
Lewis, May, Hadley, Litten. Whitbread, Batchelor, Martin (G 4/5, SB on 7),
Minchella. Subs: Luckley, Tanginoa, Doro, Leyland. 18^th Man: Brown.

St Helens: Welsby, Sailor, Robertson, Percival (G 2/2), Cross
(T), Lomax, Mbye, Walmsley, Clark, Lees, Sironen, Whitley, Knowles. Subs: Paasi,
Batchelor, Burns, Delaney (SB on 22). 18^th Man: Whitby (used). 

Half-Time: 2-2.

Full-Time:  12-8.  

Score Progression: (SB), (SB), 2-0, 2-2 : HT: 4-2, 6-2, 8-2,
12-2, 12-6, 12-8 :FT.

Lead Exchanges: KR – Square - KR.

Referee: Chris Kendall.