Ugly Hull KR find a way as Jez Litten drop goal puts them joint top of Super League

Hull KR are joint top of Super League, but boy did they make hard work of it. Jez Litten's late drop goal was enough to ensure Rovers escaped the Jungle with two league points, but only after surviving an almighty scare to win 13-12.

For all intent and purposes, this Robins performance did not warrant a win. They were careless, messy and erratic. They will be pleased with the win, but not with what they dished up. Of course, that sometimes has to be the case; you can't always play well and it's important to find a way. But nobody will be satisfied with this. It was a scare that was very much self-inflicted, with Rovers sloppy to say the least.

With their away form well scrutinised, this performance won't have convinced many that they're over that problem. However, a win is a win. That's all that really matters.

It had been confirmed in the week that Rovers would have to make two changes, with James Batchelor and Matt Parcell ruled out through injury. But there was a third change enforced, with Jai Whitbread forced to miss out with a groin injury. As a result, Jack Brown got his first start in Rovers colours, while George King and Danny Richardson were recalled to the bench.

Rovers, despite an early Ryan Hall knock-on, got on top of the territorial battle early and appeared to have control. But after Tom Opacic dropped the ball trying to score, Rovers conceded a penalty and a drop out. From the following set, former Robin, Sam Wood, towered over a former Tiger, Jack Broadbent, to open the scoring. Another former Rovers player, Rowan Milnes, nailed the conversion.

However, that appeared to spark the visitors into life. In the blink of an eye, they were ahead. It was the old one-two combo. Mikey Lewis worked his magic to create the first try, stepping Milnes to break the line. In support was Opacic, who scored under the sticks.

Lewis converted, and he soon added another as Rovers scored from the next set. Jez Litten showed great awareness to dart between split markers. He tipped on to Elliot Minchella who did a brilliant job of turning Tex Hoy inside out to score under the posts.

But in truth, it was a pretty unattractive first-half performance beyond that. Rovers were ill-disciplined, both in terms of penalties conceded and ball retention. It meant they rarely forced sustained pressure, and when they did, their execution was off. Castleford, gritty but not as skillful, stuck in there and chipped away. At half-time, they were very much in the contest.

The theme continued after half-time. Kelepi Tanginoa fumbled in the opening set and a few plays later, Sylvester Namo, the Papua New Guinea prop, appeared to have scored. However, Litten had remarkably managed to get his leg underneath the ball, after which the ball was dropped.

It was a let-off for Rovers, but the sloppy nature of the performance continued. Lewis missed a penalty goal from almost in front of the sticks that would have given Rovers a two-score lead and the relinquishing of possession continued.

It would eventually bite them on 59 minutes. Tanginoa dropped a pass near the Castleford line and while Rovers recovered from a Hoy break, Dean Hadley dropped the ball on play one. Cas wouldn't miss out this time, with Milnes darting over from close range. He converted his own try to bring the game level.

Rovers knew they were in a scrap for two points at this point, however, they couldn't cut out the errors. It was epitomised by one particularly poor moment when Tanginoa ran into the path of Lewis as he was kicking the ball on the last. Hall, normally calm personified, booted the ball away in frustration. It summed up the mood.

However, they would find a way at the end. Litten was the matchwinner, nailing his drop goal from a central spot to give them a lead with seven minutes to go. The drama wasn't over, with Storton fumbling in his own half to put Castleford in position to get a drop goal of their own. However, Namo fumbled when they lined it up, and Rovers could breathe a sigh of relief.

Castleford Tigers: Tex Hoy, Jason Qareqare, Corey Hall, Sam Wood, Innes Senior, Rowan Milnes, Jacob Miller, George Griffin, Liam Horne, Joe Westerman, Elie El-Zakhem, Alex Mellor, Geroge Hill. Subs: Sam Hall, Slvester Namo, Cain Robb, Matty English.

Tries: Wood (12), Milnes (59)
Goals: Milnes 2/2

Hull KR: Niall Evalds, Jack Broadbent, Peta Hiku, Tom Opacic, Ryan Hall, Tyrone May, Mikey Lewis, Sauaso Sue, Jez Litten, Jack Brown, Dean Hadley, Kelepi Tanginoa, Elliot Minchella. Subs: George King, Sam Luckley, Matty Storton, Danny Richardson.

Tries: Opacic (16), Minchella (19)
Goals: Lewis 2/3