Hull KR have headed into halftime trailing Leigh Leopards in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals but it’s not been without controversy.
The game was a repeat of last year’s Challenge Cup Final and Hull KR were keen to seek vengeance and right the wrong of Wembley, and they were well-fancied to do so.
With home advantage Hull KR were heavy favourites but they currently trail 8-4 at the half despite having taken the lead through a Joe Burgess breakaway try.
Burgess stepped one defender on his own twenty-metre line and broke the line before rounding full-back Matt Moylan to open the scoring.
Leigh hit back through Kai O’Donnell with Hull KR then compounding their error by kicking out on the full in what was a very windy Craven Park.
Just ahead of the hooter, the Leopards were fitted another penalty by the uncharacteristically ill-disciplined Hull KR and Matt Moylan gratefully accepted and kicked the two points.
Prior to that though the Robins had seen two tries disallowed, the first for a ball steal by Elliot Minchella and the second due to a forward pass by the captain.
That second decision was one that looked to be an incredibly close call and has led one legendary former coach to question the decision.
Were Hull KR hard done by?
Credit: SWpix
There was no disputing the first disallowed try with video referee Tom Grant clearly explaining that there were multiple men in the tackle when Minchella ripped the ball from Frankie Halton in Leigh’s own in-goal area.
However, there will be more question marks about the second one which came just after the half hour mark as captain Minchella darted back across the line and made a little pop pass into the path of Dean Hadley.
Referee Chris Kendall was quick on the whistle though, blowing up before Hadley even had time to ground the ball which led to a chorus of boos at Craven Park.
It was a decision that John Kear was also querying as he reacted in shock.
“My word!”, Kear exclaimed, live on commentary for BBC.
“I’m not sure if Chris Kendall or a sideline touch judge has given that but I don’t think Elliot Minchella thinks it was forward.
“From that replay, I think he’s got an argument.”
Leigh had been dealt a major blow before kick-off with no Gareth O’Brien in the squad meaning star signing Matt Moylan had to drop to full-back.
