For the first time in their short history the Toronto Wolfpack faced Super League opposition in Canada as Hull KR arrived in town for the second round of the Qualifiers. The Robins knew  that a loss would put them in all sorts of trouble in terms of ensuring that they retain their Super League status. After a victory over Halifax last week the Wolfpack were looking for a second consecutive win to put them in pole position to secure top flight football for 2019.

Both sides were without a number of stars. KR travelled without Todd Carney while the Wolfpack were missing Liam Kay and Matty Russell. It was likely to be a nerve racking evening at the Lampart Stadium for both sets of players and their supporters.

There were ten minutes in the clock when Toronto took the lead. Having had the most of the position and possession in the opening ten, but not taking the most of their opportunities, it was a  Chase Stanley pass that found Nick Rawsthorne to dive over in the corner. Gareth O’Brien converted from the touchline.

Hull KR scored a length of the field try on twenty after a Scott Quinlan break saw him pass over the shoulder under the tackle from Mason Caton-Brown,  into the hands of Junior Vaivai to go the last twenty to score under the sticks. Danny Tickle added the extra and the scores were tied at 6-6.

KR were in the lead on twenty-four when Craig Hall intercepted ten from his own line and sprinted down the left wing to evade the Toronto tacklers and score. Tickle converted from the touchline for a 12-6 advantage.

A thirty-seventh minute high tackle by Toronto gifted Craig Hall a simple penalty goal for an eight point lead. KR absorbed the early Toronto onslaught and scored two breakaway tries for an eight point interval lead in a competitive game.

Three minutes after the restart Andrew Dixon took a short pass from Andy Ackers to spin out ofthe attempted tackle and drop over the line to revitaise the Wolfpack challenge. O’Brien added the conversion for 12-14.

An O’Brien penalty, for a ball steal on forty-six, levelled the scores, it was game back on. Another two points followed on forty-eight after KR were accidentally offside from the kick-off, and Toronto had regained the lead.

The lead changed hands again on the hour mark when Chris Atkin took an Adam Quinlan pass after a brilliant James Greenwood offload, to go twenty metres to score by the uprights. Tickle slotted the conversion between the uprights for a 20-6 lead.

Two minutes later Chris Clarkson pushed off the attempted tackles to go twenty metres and dive over in the corner. Tickle was accurate with the boot from wide and the visitors had a ten point lead.

Dixon set up a grandstand finish as he weaved his way to the line to bounce off a post pad and ground on the line for his second of the game. O’Brien added the conversion for 22-26 with just over six minutes remaining.

Craig Hall kicked a forty-eight metre penalty goal on seventy-six to extend the visitors lead to six points.

KR’s Danny McGuire had an attempted drop goal charged down on seventy-eight and after tickle lost the ball in the tackle Toronto lauched one last attack. Sidlow lost the ball in the tackle twenty from the KR line and the Robins held on for a vital victory to revitalise their Qualifiers campaign and strike a blow to the Toronto aspirations.

In a fast and furious game there was little to choose between Super League and the Championship. Hull KR took their chances and scored some great counter-attacking tries, playing the smarter football and holding on for the win. Toronto now know that they have a battle on their hands if they are to make Super League in 2019, and Hull KR have taken their first step towards maintaining their status.

Wolfpack: O’Brien (5G), Rawsthorne (T), Wheeler, Stanley, Caton-Brown, McCrone, Wallace, Lussick, Beswick, Sims, Dixon (2T), Paterson, Emmitt.  Subs: Buchanan, Ackers, Sidlow, Whiting.

KR: Quinlan, Hall (T, 2G), Crooks, Vaivai (T), Wardill, Atkin (T), McGuire, Scruton, Lee, Mulhern, Greenwood, Tomkins, Tickle (4G).  Subs: Masoe, Kavanagh, Donaldson, Clarkson (T).

Referee: James Child.

Half-Time: 6-14.

Full-Time: 22-28.

Attendance: .