Round 10
Harlequins 12 l. Hull KR 32

2009 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: engage English Super League

Cooke the inspiration as Hull KR comeback to beat Quins
Mon April 20, 2009
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Paul Cooke provided the inspiration as Hull KR stormed back to register an impressive come-from-behind win at the Twickenham Stoop.

Trailing 12-8 at the interval after Quins edged the opening period, the visitors ran in four second-half tries to secure a useful two points.

And it was Cooke who proved the guiding influence, scoring a try and creating three others.

With the conditions perfect for free-flowing rugby, both sides opted for the expansive approach, leading to a cut-and-thrust opening half that saw the game swing one way and then the other.

Quins took an early lead, Danny Orr's clever kick through being gathered by Matt Gardner, who powered over the line.

Moments later, though, Hull KR hit back, Cooke deceiving the defence with a long pass that allowed Kris Welham to crash over.

With both sides evenly matched, and a number of heavy hits flying in, the game continued at a breakneck pace.

The hosts were next on the scoresheet, Orr again the creator as his short pass allowed Chad Robinson to rumble over.

But back came the visitors, with a superb Makali Aizue reverse pass freeing Peter Cox to cross in the corner.

With Rob Purdham converting both tries for the Londoners, but Michael Dobson missing both kicks for Hull KR, it was Quins who had a narrow interval lead.

If the first half had been shaded by Quins, it was Hull KR who emerged the stronger after the break, producing a storming 40 minutes that secured the points.

Firstly, after Luke Gale was stripped of the ball, Cooke crashed over and, minutes later, a Cooke kick through saw Liam Colbon add another try.

With Orr failing to appear, the hosts lost all rhythm, and the visitors maintained their stranglehold on proceedings.

Ben Galea was the man to profit most, running in two late scores after good work again by Cooke.


McDermott name Harlequins 19 for Hull KR
Sat April 18, 2009
Source: www.quins.co.uk

Jon Wells and Matt Gafa are set to return to the Stoop on Sunday after missing the last two games through injury. Recent signing Matt Gardner is again included after making a try scoring debut against Catalans last weekend.

Only one point separates Harlequins and Hull KR in the engage Super League table and Harlequins head coach, Brian McDermott, is expecting a close game:

"Hull KR are playing really well at the moment. Justin Morgan has recruited a really good squad and they're one of the inform teams in the league."

Meanwhile captain, Rob Purdham, is relieved to be through the Easter weekend:

"We've got over the last weekend's busy schedule and had much longer to prepare for this game compared to Celtic, so everyone is ready for Hull KR."

Purdham also said that the ups and downs of the previous results provide valuable lessons to learn from:

"Bad results do effect you, but you've got to get over it as soon as possible. If you dwell on it for too long it will go into the next game and you'll underperform. So we get it out of our system during training in the week, learn from it and get on with it."

Full 19 man squad:

6 L. Dorn
3 M. Gafa
21 L. Gale
26 M. Gardner
19 J. Golden
16 G. Haggerty
23 D. Heckenberg
4 D. Howell
10 L. McCarthy-Scarsbrook
1 C. Melling
7 D. Orr
13 R. Purdham
9 C. Randall
12 C. Robinson
5 W. Sharp
8 K. Temata
17 D. Ward
2 J. Wells
11 L. Williamson

Make sure you don't miss Hull KR's visit to the Stoop this Sunday, kick off 3pm.

More Information & Tickets: www.quins.co.uk

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