Super League: Alex Brown hat-trick sets up Hull KR win over London
Hull KR climbed into the Super League play-off positions after a 42-22 win over London Broncos at the Twickenham Stoop.
Last Updated: 09/03/13 8:49pm
Winger Alex Brown raced in for a first-half hat-trick as the visitors went 30-6 ahead at the break, but London hinted at a comeback early in the second half.
With memories of their late collapse at Salford jangling Rovers' nerves, London scored 12 unanswered points to cut the deficit, but this time Rovers steadied the ship and quickly wrapped up the contest.
An early error in the London defence allowed Rovers to edge ahead, a Michael Dobson high kick bouncing and kicking into the in-goal area, with Kris Welham first to react and touch down.
The second try on 13 minutes was a piece of individual brilliance from Brown, who handed off Kieran Dixon and then raced clear of Daniel Sarginson, eventually sprinting in to touch down in the corner.
Dobson missed his second conversion attempt and after a strong burst from Shane Rodney, Ben Fisher sent Craig Gower spinning over the line from close range. Michael Witt converted and the score was 6-8.
But just as London got back into the game, they handed Rovers six points, Welham picking off a loose pass in midfield and running 50 metres to score under the posts.
Brown's next try was another solo sprint down the right, this time from just 30 metres out, before a brilliant short ball from Travis Burns put Greg Eden in under the posts.
Eden turned creator on the stroke of the half as he spun out a long pass to give Brown his hat-trick.
London's rally started with Kieran Dixon getting in at the corner under pressure from Brown, before Chris Bailey took advantage of a Brown fumble to touch down.
Witt converted both scores and the deficit was suddenly just 12 points, but a Dobson penalty settled Rovers' nerves and moments later teenager Liam Salter twisted over and managed to get the ball down for a good finish on the sixth tackle.
The points were safe when a typically astute delayed pass from Dobson put Cory Patterson in, with Sarginson's late touchdown no consolation to a well-beaten London.