Shaun Lunt scored with just three minutes to play as Hull KR claimed a huge 20-16 victory at the Leigh Sports Village to give themselves a great chance of an immediate return to Super League.
Trialling 16-14 as the clock ticked down, Lunt pounced for his second try to condemn Leigh to a potentially damaging defeat in the fight for top flight status.
After a tense first 10 minutes which saw both sides go close it was Leigh who opened the scoring as Harrison Hansen made a storming break through the middle with half-back Daniel Mortimer supporting to go over under the sticks.
The home side had the majority of the play after this but the Robins defence held firm and they got their reward on the half hour mark.
After a knock-on from the Centurions, KR made their way up the pitch and Lunt showed his quality and experience to produce a great solo try close to the line.
It looked like the sides would go in level at the break, but just on the hooter Josh Drinkwater kicked a penalty goal to send Neil Jukes side into the sheds with an 8-6 advantage.
The first points of the second half also came through a Drinkwater penalty goal but it was Rovers who scored the next try.
Jamie Ellis producing an excellent cross-field kick for his winger Ryan Shaw to collect and ground with a blade of grass to spare.
Ellis converted for the second time and kicked a penalty five minutes later to edge the visitors 14-10 in front with 15 minutes to play.
That advantage wouldn’t last though as a penalty piggybacked Leigh down the pitch and forward Atelea Vea proved too powerful as he charged over from 10 metres out.
Drinkwater kicked the goal, with the help of the post, to edge Leigh back in front at 16-14 with 10 minutes left.
Leigh could have sewed up the win with back-to-back sets on the Robins line, but they couldn’t find a way over and they were punished.
With less than four minutes to play Lunt again produced a brilliant solo run near the line to score, with Ellis converting to make it 20-16 to Tim Sheens side.
That wasn’t the end of the drama as the last three minutes were played on KR’s try line, however Leigh couldn’t find a way over the line.
It was a huge win for Rovers who have given themselves a brilliant chance at an immediate return to Super League. On the other hand Leigh are now staring down the barrel at the Million Pound Game.
