Welham the star as Hull KR rout Bulls with eight-try salvo

Hull KR 46 Bradford 18

( GETTY)

Kris welham scored a superb hat-trick as Hull KR thrashed Bradford to leapfrog their opponents in the table. Welham took his try-scoring tally in all competitions to 15 as Bradford slumped to a sixth Super League game without a win.

Hull KR full-back Shaun Briscoe returned to the starting line-up after recovering from a knee injury, while Bradford coach Mick Potter handed Ben Jeffries his first start since re-signing from Wakefield, and the Australian half-back took only four minutes to make an impact.

The 30-year-old's perfectly lofted kick caused confusion in the Hull KR back line, and although Bradford second-rower Ian Sibbit fumbled the ball backwards, Kyle Briggs was on hand to touch down. A knock-on from Bulls loose forward James Donaldson 15 metres from his own line soon handed Hull KR the initiative, though, and from the following set Michael Dobson slipped a pass to Welham, who found a route to the try line.

Three minutes later, Dobson and Welham combined again in identical fashion, then Australian stand-off Blake Green raced through a gaping hole in Bradford's static defence to extend Hull KR's advantage. However, the visitors won a penalty, and Jeffries found wing Gareth Raynor with a cut-out pass to reduce the deficit.

Green then found Hull KR centre Jake Webster for a try and three minutes later Dobson brushed off poor tackling as the home side opened up a 16-point lead. The hosts' bombardment continued in the second half as Peter Fox found Liam Watts inside for a simple try.

Bradford finally found some momentum when prop Andy Lynch barged over, but any hopes of an unlikely comeback were curtailed by Welham, who notched his hat-trick just before the hour mark.

Fox completed the rout after Webster ploughed to the line and offloaded to the England wing.

Hull KR: Tries Welham (3), Green, Webster, Dobson, Watts, Fox. Goals Dobson (7). Bradford: Tries Briggs, Raynor, Lynch. Goals Ah Van (3).

Hull KR: Briscoe, Fox, Welham, Webster, Cockayne, Green, Dobson, Vella, Hodgson, Wheeldon, Lovegrove, Galea, Netherton. Replacements: Clinton, Watts, Fisher, Cook.

Bradford: Royston, Raynor, Platt, Whitehead, Ah Van, Jeffries, Briggs, Lynch, L'Estrange, Hargreaves, Sibbit, Olbison, Donaldson.

Replacements: Kopczak, Burgess, Diskin, Langley.

Referee: Richard Silverwood (Dewsbury)