London’s Jay Pitts makes sure relegation battle goes to final weekend

Jay Pitts’ dramatic late try ensured London Broncos will take the battle for Super League survival to the final weekend of the season, after Danny Ward’s side secured a dramatic victory against Hull KR to set up a four-way battle to avoid the drop next weekend. The Broncos trailed 16-14 with two minutes remaining before Pitts, who will leave the club at the end of this season to sign for Wakefield, manage to stretch out and touch down to ensure London moved level with not only the Robins on 20 points, but Huddersfield and Wakefield too.

One of those four sides will be relegated next weekend on a dramatic final day, with London heading to West Yorkshire to take on Wakefield. Hull KR play Salford and Huddersfield host Catalans, and while the Broncos are still the outsiders owing to their inferior points difference, they know a victory of any kind against Trinity will ensure they survive against all the odds. Whoever is relegated will also go down with a record points total of 20; 16 was the previous record, set over a decade ago.

London started much the stronger of the two sides, and looked set for a comfortable victory when tries from Matty Gee and Brock Lamb, coupled with two goals from Kieran Dixon, put the Broncos 12-0 ahead. Hull KR laboured for much of the opening quarter without success, but back-to-back penalties handed them a much-needed opportunity to strike back: which they did when smart hands sent Will Dagger over, with Ryan Shaw converting to halve the deficit.

Shaw then had a try disallowed before a lengthy stoppage due to a serious injury for Jimmy Keinhorst, who collided with his own team-mate, Mose Masoe, and was stretchered from the field. That stoppage appeared to halt Hull KR’s momentum, and as half-time approached, the Broncos grew in stature once again. Dixon’s penalty on the stroke of the break made it 14-6, and on the balance of play, their two-score lead was perhaps no less than they deserved.

However, Rovers started the second half much the stronger of the two sides, and when Chris Atkin and Danny McGuire both crossed to put the hosts ahead for the first time, it looked as though London would be all-but consigned to the drop heading into the final weekend. However, Pitts and London had other ideas and when he touched down with two minutes remaining, it ensured the competition will have the most remarkable final-day relegation battle in history in a week’s time.

Huddersfield are one of the four sides in grave danger of relegation, and they now need a result against Catalans on Friday to secure survival after losing heavily at St Helens. The Super League leaders ran in eight tries to win 48-6 and ensure Simon Woolford’s side are still in trouble at the foot of the table.

Wigan moved a step closer to securing second spot ahead of the play-offs after comprehensively beating Catalans, who are now firmly out of the race for the top five after 46-12 at the DW Stadium. Warrington and Salford, meanwhile, will take their battle for third into the final weekend after both were victorious on Friday night.

Warrington defeated Wakefield 23-16 to register their first league victory in seven games, while the Red Devils won 20-12 at Leeds to all-but ensure they will be in the play-offs at the very least.

Victory against Hull KR could yet see them claim a top-three finish at Warrington’s expense, which would afford Salford the opportunity to lose once in the play-offs and not be eliminated.

Hull KR Hall; Dagger, Crooks, Keinhorst, Shaw; Drinkwater, McGuire; Mulhern, Parcell, Murray, Tomkins, Hauraki, Hadley. Interchange Garbutt, Trout, Masoe, Atkin.

Tries Dagger, Atkin, McGuire. Goals Shaw 2.

London Walker; Williams, Kear, Morgan, Dixon; Abdull, Lamb; Battye, Cunningham, Butler, Pitts, Gee, Yates. Interchange Fozard, Mason, Hindmarsh, Armitage.

Tries Gee, Lamb, Pitts. Goals Dixon 4. Referee J Child.

source: theguardian.com