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Rugby League

Hull KR hold off Catalans fightback

15/07/2007

Hull Kingston Rovers held off a spirited second half comeback by Catalan Dragons to seal a 22-20 victory in their foot-of-the-table clash.

Rovers rushed out to an early lead thanks to four tries in 12 minutes in the first half only to see the Catalans bounce back in the second period.

Clint Greenshields gave the Dragons the lead after three minutes and soon after that they were denied a try by the video referee but that seemed to galvanise their opponents into action.

Mark Lennon scored the first Hull try after he latched on to Scott Murrell's cross-field kick after 20 minutes. Stanley Gene doubled their advantage six minutes later powering over from close range.

Rovers were flying when Ian Hardman touched down a minute later and Mark O'Neill gave the visitors a 22-6 half-time lead with his try. Lennon had converted three of the four tries which was to prove vital at the end of the game.

The Catalans replied with three tries of their own in the second period, Younes Khattabi scored two of them to leave the Robins rocking.

Khattabi dived over in the corner after 49 minutes to reduce the deficit and claimed his second after some good football skills helped him beat the Rovers defence.

Stacey Jones then cut the lead further by holding off two tacklers to score, but Thomas Bosc could only convert one of the second half tries allowing Hull to hang on for the victory.

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