Hull KR Trailing Leigh Leopards at Half-Time in Controversial Challenge Cup Clash
In a repeat of last year’s Challenge Cup Final, Hull KR found themselves trailing Leigh Leopards 8-4 at halftime in a thrilling quarter-final clash. Despite being heavy favorites with home advantage at Craven Park, the Robins encountered a series of contentious decisions that left many questioning the fairness of the match.
The game got off to an explosive start as Joe Burgess broke free and raced past the Leigh full-back Matt Moylan to put Hull KR ahead. However, the lead was short-lived as Kai O’Donnell scored a swift try for the Leopards. The Robins’ woes continued when they kicked the ball out on the full in the windy conditions.
“From that replay, I think he’s got an argument,” Kear exclaimed during the BBC commentary, hinting that the try should have stood.
Just before the halftime whistle, Leigh were awarded a penalty, which Moylan converted to give the visitors an 8-4 lead. The narrow deficit came after Hull KR saw two tries disallowed – the first for a ball steal by Elliot Minchella and the second due to a forward pass call on captain Minchella.
The absence of Leigh’s star player Gareth O’Brien due to an injury meant Matt Moylan had to shift to the full-back position, which proved to be a significant challenge for the visitors.
As the teams head into the second half, Hull KR will be desperate to overturn the deficit and secure a spot in the semi-finals, but the contentious officiating decisions have undoubtedly added to the drama and intrigue of this enthralling Challenge Cup quarter-final clash.
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