Rugby League: Second slip-up by Wakefield

Wakefield Trinity 17 Hull KR 24

WAKEFIELD'S grip on the rope ladder that could, in theory, lead to a Super League place, is slackening. The First Division leaders slipped to their second narrow defeat in four days, Hull KR following Swinton by virtue of sticking at their task, writes Dave Hadfield.

Trailing by two points at half-time, Rovers seemed to have missed their crucial chance when Paul Fletcher intercepted and ran 70 yards only to be hauled down short of the line.

Within moments, Wakefield's impressive stand-off, Garen Casey, sent Ian Hughes striding away, his brother Adam kicked inside and the full-back, Martyn Holland, won the race to the ball to touch down.

When Casey added a drop goal, a tight, competitive contest seemed to have swung Trinity's way, but Mike Fletcher raised Rovers' spirits with a penalty.

The visitors then grabbed two tries in the last 10 minutes to escape with the points. First Daniel Brown found a gap and Mike Fletcher's goal put them in the lead for the first time since the first minute.

In injury-time, the Papuan stand-off, Stanley Gene, latched on to a loose ball to put the result beyond doubt.

Wakefield had led at half-time with tries from Roger Kenworthy and Roy Southernwood, with Rovers' replies coming from Paul Rouse and Paul Fletcher.

Wakefield Trinity: Holland; Horsley, A Hughes, Law, Wray; Casey, Kenworthy; Hicks, Southernwood, Lord, I Hughes, Whakarau, Fuller. Substitutes used: Fisher, McDonald, Riki, Stephenson.

Hull KR: M Fletcher; Rouse, Atkins, Bamby, R Smith; Gene, Brown; Harrison, Dixon, Thompson, Kennedy, P Fletcher, Charles. Substitutes used: Sibary, Hill, A Smith, Hartley.

Referee: P Gilmour (Workington).