Hull KR (18) 25
Tries: Galea, Fisher, Fox, Cockayne Goals: Dobson 4
Drop Goal: Dobson

Leeds (0) 6
Tries: Hall Goals: Sinfield

Galea put Hull KR on track for an impressive win with the opening score

Hull Kingston Rovers made a statement of their intent for a play-off place with a superb performance against Leeds to win 25-6 at a humid Craven Park.

The Robins started brightly as Ben Galea, Ben Fisher and Peter Fox crossed with Michael Dobson adding the extras.

Ryan Hall began the second half with a try for Leeds but Rovers' scrambled defence repeatedly denied the visitors.

A Dobson drop-goal and Ben Cockayne's try, converted by Dobson, sealed this Super League double over the champions.

The injury-hit reigning champions, who started the game without six first-team players, saw the returning Rob Burrow and Lee Smith limp off as their hopes of earning a fourth straight Super League crown took another blow with an eighth defeat of the season.

Leeds should have opened the scoring but the first in a series of crucial errors denied them as Danny McGuire was judged to have made a double movement over the line.

It was the cue for the Robins to move up a gear as Galea's sharp switch in direction and hand-off got them off the mark on seven minutes and handed Dobson an easy conversion.

The half-back was on song again 11 minutes later as Ben Fisher scored but not before Ryan Bailey spilled the ball over the line to deny Leeds a chance to level the score.

Carl Ablett was judged to have grounded short of the line at the end of a scrappy move from Leeds before Fox, a former Leeds academy reject, swooped on a rare errant pass from Kevin Sinfield.

As the former England man ran onto the ball it popped for him and he raced 60 metres to score under the uprights.

Rob Burrow kicked through for Hall's score, converted by Sinfield, but McGuire was soon denied a chance to erase his previous error and he moved onto a floated Jamie Peacock pass.

But he was thwarted by a superb flying Fox tackle that epitomised Rovers' gutsy defensive performance.

Dobson then gave the Robins a 13-point breathing space with a drop-goal with 12 minutes on the clock but the misery was not over the Rhinos.

Hall crossed the line again but fumbled the ball in the grounding before Cockayne brilliantly latched onto a grubber from Galea to ensure a fourth game without defeat for Hull KR - and sixth place in Super League.

But it compounded a miserable night for the reigning Super League champions.

Hull KR coach Justin Morgan:
"We played exceptionally well to keep a champion side, and that's what they are, to one try from a kick. Our forwards were outstanding with the way they carried the football.

"It's really important to finish the season well and the last month we've been really solid. There's a lot of jostling from four to seven and it's important to keep winning. We're taking some form.

"That was the best 80 minutes this season as they're a quality side. I thought the way we kicked was excellent and it was supported by some great chase.

"But this performance and last week's doesn't count for anything. We have to do it all again next week."

Leeds coach Brian McClennan:
"Lee Smith and Rob Burrow had to come off but we will assess them in the morning and on Monday but we have a feeling it is not of a serious nature.

"That could be a big plus for us. We just seem to be losing players each week, which is a common thread throughout the Super League.

"But Rob came in with some nice plays and with his speed he can make other teams sweat. He's going to need a couple of games to get his passing game in the groove and it was good to see him back on the pitch."

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

Leeds: Smith, Donald, Delaney, Senior, Hall, Sinfield, McGuire, Bailey, McShane, Peacock, Ablett, Jones-Buchanan, Clarkson.
Replacements: Burrow, Kirke, Ambler, Pitts.

Referee: Thierry Alibert (Toulouse).

Attendance: 8,406.

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