Wembley will see an all-Yorkshire Challenge Cup Final at the end of this month after Hull KR beat warrington 26-18 to reach their first final appearance since 1986.

Rovers - who have only won the Cup once before, in 1980 - marked Yorkshire Day by booking their place against Leeds on 29 August at a rain-soaked Headingley, home ground of the Rhinos.

But they had to overcome a ferocious Wolves start to do it. Warrington were the first to trouble the scorers when Ryan Aktins crossed the line on the end of a pitch-wide right to left passing move after just 1 min 14 sec.


When Gareth O’Brien converted, Rovers were 6-0 down and yet to touch the ball - and it was to be another four minutes before they mounted their first serious attack.

That was ended by a knock-on; and a combination of the weather and both teams’ lack of composure saw a stop-and-start game for the next 20 minutes as more knock-ons and penalties seemed to see every other set end on the first or second tackle.

But Rovers held out against that first Warrington blitz, the weather and the occasion: and a Warrington knock-on in their own half after 22 minutes saw live-wire half-back Albert Kelly set up for Josh Mantallato to score in the corner off a superb Kieran Dixon pass.

The competition’s leading scorer failed to convert his own try, hitting the post instead, but the 6-4 scoreline gave hope to the 6,500 fans who made the trip from the East Riding - and to the team. Just three minutes later Ken Sio latched onto a Kelly kick on the opposite side to score KR’s second - this time converted by Mantallato - and at 10-6 Rovers moved into a lead they never lost.

Kelly now came into his own and and for the rest of the half, it was all Rovers in attack; with a kicked penalty on 33 minutes giving the Robins a 12-6 half time lead.

And the second half started with more of the same: French international Kevin Larroyer placed the ball on the Wolves’ line just six minutes into the half. And while referee Richard Silverwood referred it to the video ref as a ‘no try’, he was overruled and KR were 18-6 ahead when Mantallato converted.

Wolves were 20-6 behind, after a Mantallato penalty for a ball-steal, before they started their own fightback.

Richie Myler put Warrington back in the game with a try on 58 minutes, and then put Ben Currie over in the corner. With O’Brien converting both tries, this was semi-final rugby set up for a tight and tense final quarter of an hour at 20-18.

With the rain pelting down, Warrington entered their own period of dominance but failed to capitalise on their chances - and once more the game was marked by plenty of dropped ball from both sides.

But Cup veteran Sean Lunt sealed it for Rovers in the 75th minute, breaking through three tacklers on his hands and knees to chalk up the winning try - after a quick call on the video ref - and make the winning scoreline 26-18 (O’Brien conversion).

Wolves are left to focus on the Super 8s section of Super League while Rovers - who will be playing for their 2016 SL place in the middle 8s - look forward to the chance of lifting the cup for the first time in 35 years.


Wolves: Ratchford; Ormsby, Wheeler, Atkins (T), Monaghan; O'Brien (3G), Myler; (T) Hill, Clark, Sims, Wilde, Currie (T), Harrison. Subs: Dwyer, Asotasi, Philbin, England.

Hull KR: Dixon; Mantellato (T, 5G) , Welham, Salter, Sio (T); Blair, Kelly; Walker, Lunt (T), Puletua, Larroyer (T), Horne, McCarthy. Subs: Boudebza, Donaldson, Green, Tilse.

Referee: Richard Silverwood.
Attendance: 13,049.