Charlie Mullan watched a weakened Hull KR side lost 22-34 to London Broncos at Craven Park. A Josh Gudzek try on debut was among the highlights for a Rovers side preparing for the play-off eliminator against St Helens.
IT may have been a game of little meaning on the Super League table, but there were still plenty of pleasing aspects for the Robins despite suffering a 34-22 defeat to London.
Okay, so Rovers let a game they were in control of, slip away far too easily. But rounding off their regular season with a young and inexperienced side, it was a line-up which took to the field with coach Craig Sandercock clearly casting one eye on this Saturday's elimination decider against St Helens.
Of the 17 that featured, perhaps 10 will be included for the trip to Langtree Park, but those who did come in showed glimpses that they could have big futures ahead. Josh Guzdek certainly gave a very good account of himself on his Super League debut. As Sandercock alluded to afterwards, he still needs to develop the physical stature to become a regular, but his first-minute try proved he still can do a stand-in job at this level if and when required.
More importantly, Kris Welham made his long-awaited return to action following shoulder surgery in May and he may now have done enough to force his way in for the Saints showdown.
A dead rubber in many respects, the outcome of this game was never important. Rovers could not finish any higher or lower than eighth so there was no point in risking key players ahead of the play-offs. The regulars who were rested, including skipper Michael Dobson, should all return fitter and fresher for the weekend off and after 23 minutes they must have thought they would head to Saints on the back of a victory.
Leading 16-0 and with London offering very little, there looked to be only one winner. But the Broncos, who are battling to keep their club alive in the capital, stormed back to remind the Robins that Super League matches can change in an instant.
In Jamie Soward, London had the best player on the pitch. In Mason Caton-Brown, London know they have a player they can count on to score tries next season (even if their playing budget is cut massively). Another youngster to light up MS3 Craven Park was Rovers full-back Guzdek.
Looking solid and assured under the high ball, he joined in the attack with confidence. None more so than in the very first minute when, with his very first touch, he scored the opening try after a great break from Craig Hall. With Hall thriving in his role at scrum-half in place of Dobson, and with Lincoln Withers at stand-off, the half backs combined well in the 11th minute for Hall to benefit. His conversions mean KR cruised into a 12-0 lead.
Welham's first telling contribution came in the 22nd minute when his quick hands got the ball outside him for Omari Caro to score in the corner. Hall missed his conversion to leave it 16-0 to Rovers.
At this stage, any thoughts of a London win would have been laughed at. However, two tries in four minutes changed the complex of game as Mike Bishay's clever kick was well grounded Caton-Brown for the first of his hat-trick.
Then Soward woke up. After playing a quiet role in the opening 20 minutes, he grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck. The scrum-half left several Rovers defenders in his wake as he waltzed through to score under the posts.
London failed to capitalise on Soward's 40/20 at the start of the second half but the Aussie was on hand to score his side's second try following a break by former Robins man Ben Fisher down the middle. Caton-Brown enhanced his reputation by scoring his second from Soward's well-placed kick and suddenly the Londoners were leading 22-16.
When Welham marked his return to action with a well-taken score from Hall's clever kick through, the conversion levelled matters at 22-22 and meant there was all to play for. But if Rovers' fans hoped it was the start of a comeback, it only sparked London back into life.
Predictably, Soward was heavily involved and after a running feud with Keal Carlile seemed to inspire him, he sent Caton-Brown over with a long, cut out pass. Rovers did come close after another Hall break following his interception, but Tyla Hepi's error put paid to that attack.
It effectively spelt the end of Rovers' winning hopes as the Broncos marched down field and sealed the win through Mark Bryant as the prop powered over from close range in his last game before retiring. Soward even let him kick the conversion and he struck it like a regular goal kicker to rub salt into KR's wounds.
It means Rovers head into the play-offs on the back of successive defeats. But Sandercock won't be too concerned about that when he chooses from a far fresher squad next week at St Helens.
