Leeds Rhinos 10-17 Hull Kingston Rovers

Leeds (6) 10
Tries: Jones-Buchanan, Senior Goals: Burrow

Hull KR (16) 17
Tries: Colbon, Webster, Briscoe Goals: Dobson 2 Drop Goal: Dobson

Dobson recovered from a nightmare start to guide Rovers to victory

Leeds Rhinos' poor start to the season goes on as Hull KR recorded their first Super League win at Headingley.

Jamie Jones-Buchanan scored inside the first minute after a charge-down. But Hull KR hit back with tries from Liam Colbon, Peter Fox and Shaun Briscoe.

Leeds' young, injury-hit side rallied in the second half as centre Keith Senior crossed in the corner.

But, in a bad-tempered finale, Michael Dobson ensured that Rovers climbed above Leeds with a clinching drop goal.

Having already suffered four defeats in their first seven games this season, weakened Leeds got off to a dream start when Jones-Buchanan charged down Dobson's kick to score with just seconds on the clock.

But Rhinos, who started with two debutants on the wings (centre Michael Coady and second row Chris Clarkson), lost their shape.

Without skipper Kevin Sinfield for a third straight game, the home side looked disjointed in attack.

In contrast, Hull KR gained confidence as the half went on, scoring on 22 minutes when Liam Colbon was fed by Kris Welham and he rounded Coady who had left his wing and was caught in no man's land.

Dobson missed the conversion, but he made amends just four minutes later as the visitors exploited heartless defending.

Jake Webster rounded Senior before feeding back inside to Fox to ground the ball under the posts.

Then, with just five minutes left before the break, Briscoe pounced after Leeds full-back Brent Webb fluffed Dobson's grubber kick under the posts.

Nine minutes into the second half, Senior clawed Rhinos back into the match as he squeezed over in the left corner on the end of a well-constructed Leeds set.

Dobson pulled a penalty attempt left to deny the Robins an eight-point lead and Leeds pressed the visitors' line as they tried to forge a comeback.

But their effort was dealt a severe blow when England captain Jamie Peacock limped off with 18 minutes left.

Clarkson nearly pulled off a spectacular debut try as he tried to take McShane's kick but he just failed to gather the ball mid-flight.

Brent Webb's break forced a penalty on the visiting 20 and, with a quarter of an hour left, Leeds had their tails up.

But Dobson added the crucial extra point with a drop goal to seal his side's victory.

Hull KR coach Justin Morgan said: "I think it's appropriate to use the phrase 'bouncebackability' this week.

"I think Iain Dowie, who has been welcomed to our wonderful city, invented the phrase, so it was great from that point of view.

"It's been 25 years since Hull KR won at Headingley. We dug in and showed some of the characteristics that we'd much prefer to see."

Leeds coach Brian McLennan said:

"I'm really proud of the lads. They dug in and tried very hard.

"We had to do too much tackling in the last quarter than we'd have liked but, if we'd have got a little bit more ball, we would have come home.

"We created chances throughout the game but we just didn't get over the line."

Leeds Rhinos: Webb, Coady, Delaney, Senior, Clarkson, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Diskin, Peacock, Kirke, Pitts, Jones-Buchanan.
Replacements: Lauitiiti, Burgess, Amor, McShane.

Hull KR: Briscoe, Fox, Webster, Welham, Colbon, Murrell, Dobson, Vella, Hodgson, Clinton, Lovegrove, Newton, Galea.
Replacements: Wheeldon, Netherton, Fisher, Watts.

Referee: Steve Ganson (St Helens)

Att: 15,201