Wakefield (4) 14
Tries: Millard, Moore, Johnson Goals: Cooke

Hull KR (16) 46
Tries: Dobson, Newton, Welham, Fox 2, Wheeldon 2 Goals: Dobson 9

Fox had only scored six Super League tries in 19 appearances this season

Hull KR winger Peter Fox ran in two tries in as many minutes as the play-off chasing Robins made it three Super League games without defeat.

Michael Dobson, Clint Newton and Kris Welham all crossed to help put Rovers 16-4 up at the break.

Fox's double straight after the restart then made the game safe, both converted by Dobson, who was to kick nine goals.

Richard Moore and Paul Johnson pulled two tries back but two late tries for prop Scott Wheeldon sealed victory.

Rovers' second win in three games, to follow last weekend's 16-16 draw at Huddersfield, puts them on 21 points - giving them a four-point cushion over ninth-placed Bradford.

The game was reduced to 12 men a side for the last six minutes after a sin bin incident involving the home side's Michael Korkidas and visiting second row Rhys Lovegrove.

England winger Fox's fine brace aside, it was a largely low-quality encounter, made memorable for a mistake by Wakefield stand-off Paul Cooke, who gifted his former club their second try.

Wakefield had beaten Crusaders 41-0 in Wrexham to earn only their second win in 11 games. But, in this battle for play-off places, they simply failed to turn up against one of their man rivals, and were ruthlessly punished.

Rovers began in vibrant fashion, leading inside the fifth minute when Dobson collected a neat pass from Ben Galea and showed delightful footwork to weave his way over, converting his own try.

Rovers then went further ahead on 22 minutes thanks to a helping hand from Cooke against the team he supported as a boy.

Cooke's careless pass to his left on the visitors' 20-metre line was intercepted by Newton, who intercepted before racing 80 metres to cross the line.

But Newton then himself made an error six minutes later to allow the hosts back into the game, dropping a high kick from Ben Jeffries, which allowed Millard to ground the loose ball.

Cooke failed to convert and, shortly before the break, the visitors grabbed their fourth score when, just after the loss of stand-off Scott Murrell just past the half hour with a calf strain, Welham touched down from another pass by Galea.

And the result was never in doubt from the moment Fox struck twice in quick succession shortly after the break.

On both occasions, he showed impressive pace and lethal finishing skills to burst clear down the righ.

Wakefield rallied in spirited fashion, touching down through prop Moore, Cooke converting before Dobson's penalty put the visitors 30-10 ahead.

Wildcats replacement Paul Johnson then went over in the right corner shortly before the hour mark but Cooke missed the conversion and Dobson quickly added two more penalties to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Tensions mounted when Wakefield replacement Korkidas was shown a yellow card, Lovegrove immediately following him into the sinbin after retaliating.

But Rovers had the final say in the closing stages when Wheeldon twice touched down, Dobson landing both to finish with a 22-point haul.

Wakefield coach John Kear said:

"We got absolutely mullered. If we play like that we haven't got a hope in hell with the play-offs.

"That performance just wasn't play-off standard.

"I don't think I need to point out any home truths. But the players will certainly see it for themselves in pictures tomorrow and it won't make pretty viewing.

"It's frustrating for the fans. To have a job and pay your hard-earned money to come and watch that, well I would be really disappointed."

Hull KR coach Justin Morgan said:

"If we continue to keep playing like we are then I'd like to think we can cement one of those places.

"Both John Kear and I said before the game that it was an important game in terms of getting into the top eight. And, in terms of gut and determination it was way up there.

"Having lost Scott Murrell with a calf tear, for people to put their hands up and play in unfamiliar positions was a credit to them. But I've got to single out Mick Vella. He doesn't always get the accolades but it was a great captain's knock."

Wakefield: Blaymire, Blanch, Murphy, Millard, Morton, Cooke, Jeffries, Moore, Rinaldi, Leaeno, Kirmond, Morrison, Demetriou.
Replacements: Korkidas, King, Johnson, Leo-Latu.

Hull K R: Cockayne, Fox, Newton, Welham, Latus, Murrell, Dobson, Clinton, Fisher, Wheeldon, Lovegrove, Galea, Watts.
Replacements: Vella, Taylor, Hodgson, Cook.

Referee: Ben Thaler (Wakefield).

Attendance: 6,218.

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