Papua New Guinea international Rhyse Martin scored 20 points as Hull KR got their season up and running with a comfortable 44-2 win at York Knights.
The former Leeds Rhinos second-rower ran in a brace of tries and kicked six conversions on his Rovers debut.
York started strongly, but last season’s Super League and Grand Final runners-up made their extra class and full-time fitness count, running in eight tries, though they were scrappy for much of the game.
The Championship club led for 19 minutes in the first half before Hull KR crossed three times in nine minutes to take a grip on the contest and once they had opened a 16-2 interval lead, the result was never in doubt.
The Robins lost to York in a pre-season game in Amsterdam two weeks ago, but were a different proposition this time, with only Kelepi Tanginoa backing up from that game. Tom Davies, Michael McIlorum and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves all made their first appearance, alongside Martin.
Knights’ early lead came through a penalty goal by ex-Hull KR full-back Will Dagger. That was the result of a disagreement between McIlorum and Paul McShane, who joined York in the off-season from Castleford Tigers.
Knights’ defence was excellent in the opening quarter and they survived four successive sets on their own line at one stage before Man of Steel Mikey Lewis sliced through from Tyrone May’s well-timed pass.
The hard work they’d done took its toll on the hosts as Lewis turned provider with the final ball to Martin who crawled over to open his Rovers account on the half hour.
Jack Teanby’s knock-on near York’s line – followed by a six-again – led to the third try, four minutes later, Peta Hiku proving far too strong for Knights’ tiring left-side defence.
Hiku showed his defensive mettle to shut down Knights’ best try scoring chance, making a last-ditch tackle to keep Oli Field out just before the interval.
Hiku was in the thick of things again four minutes after the break when his pass was finished by former Catalans Dragons winger Davies.
Halves May and Lewis combined to create Martin’s second and Niall Evalds backed up a superb break by Jez Litten for the visitors’ sixth touchdown with 15 minutes left.
Lewis scored his second off an assist by Evalds and Tanginoa completed the try haul three minutes from time, from May’s pass.
York Knights: Dagger, Brown, Buchanan, Field, Harrison, Hingano, Harris, Martin, McShane, Thompson, Dee, Bailey, Gannon. Subs Santi, Teanby, Cook, Fitzsimmons.
Hull KR: Evalds, Davis, Haiku, Gildart, Burgess, Lewis, May, Sue, McIlorum, Waerea-Hargreaves, Martin, Batchelor, Minchella. Subs Litten, Hardley, Whitbread, Tanginoa.
Referee: Chris Kendall (Huddersfield).
