Hull KR (30) 54
Tries: Newton 2, Cockayne, Dobson 3, Watts, Fox, Welham
Goals: Dobson 9

Crusaders (4) 10
Tries: Raynor, Sammut
Goals: Withers

Dobson doubled his try hail for the season in the space of one afternoon

Michael Dobson scored a hat-trick of tries and kicked nine goals as Hull KR hammered Brian Noble's Crusaders.

Clint Newton, Ben Cockayne and Dobson went over early for Rovers, but Gareth Raynor replied before the visitors had a try ruled out for a forward pass.

This proved crucial as Dobson crossed twice more before half-time to give the hosts a 30-4 lead at the break.

Rovers notched four more tries in the second half, through Newton, Liam Watts, Peter Fox and Kris Welham.

Having conceded 134 points in three successive defeats, Rovers came into the game under pressure but have now moved back into the play-off places.

For Crusaders, this crushing defeat at Craven Park is a further blow on top of last weekend's morale-sapping, last-ditch 35-34 Challenge Cup exit to Catalans.

606: DEBATE Normal service has resumed at Craven Park. A brilliant display by the lads today blackhatchetboy

However, had they been more ruthless in attack, their heaviest defeat since Noble took charge might have proved a more even contest.

This was best demonstrated when, after Raynor replied to the early Rovers scores, Michael Witt threw forward to Weller Hauraki under the posts, rather than taking the simple option of going over himself.

Soon after, Dobson, who had only previously scored three tries this season in 13 appearances, combined with Watts for his second try. And he then raced the length of the field for his third to effectively end the contest by half time.

Crusaders dominated the opening 10 minutes of the second period but Newton snatched Sammut's ambitious pass and ran clear before the Crusaders scrum-half managed to cap an impressive display with a try of his own.

This temporarily reduced the arrears, but their was to be no more joy for the Welsh side as Watts, Fox, and Welham rubber-stamped Rovers' victory.

Hull KR coach Justin Morgan:
"We showed a great deal of enthusiasm. We had a couple of runaway tries and to see everyone in the team going to congratulate that player, those signs reinforce my belief about the togetherness of this group.

"It was the most energised performance I've seen this season, the battle is to continue that on. That's just one small step, there's plenty more to go.

"I thought we looked solid defensively from the start. We needed to do that because that's what we've needed to address. It's nice to make a plan and see it come to fruition."

Crusaders coach Brian Noble:
"There are a couple of things not going our way at the moment.

"We can talk about Michael Witt but we've made a five-on-one break on the full-back and we've blown it. There were a couple of things we can do a whole lot better.

"I was disappointed with the way we went about our task. We had some crucial calls today at crucial times. The pressure valve can be taken away by things that are out of our control."

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

Crusaders RL: Schifcofske, Thomas, Mellars, Hanbury, Raynor, Witt, Sammut, O'Hara, Withers, Bryant, Hauraki, Chan, Trimarchi.
Replacements: Peek, Lupton, Flower, Winternstein.

Attendance: 7,273

Referee: Phil Bentham (Warrington).

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