Josh Mantellato helps Hull KR back to their winning ways

LEEDS, UNITED KINGDOM // Josh Mantellato got the comeback rolling as Hull KR put their Challenge Cup disappointment behind them by maintaining their winning streak in The Qualifiers with a 20-18 victory over Wakefield on Sunday.

Hull KR hosted the Wildcats eager to show what they are made of after being shut out by Leeds Rhinos the Challenge Cup final.

But the home side soon found themselves trailing 12-0 as former New Zealand Warrior Kevin Locke scored twice and Lee Smith also touched down.

But ex-Newcastle Knight Mantellatio charged down a Smith kick and raced 80m to get Hull KR on the scoreboard, and they trailed by just two points at half-time as Kieran Dixon went over.

The hosts carried this momentum over into the second half and took the lead through another Dixon score, before Shaun Lunt got in on the act.

Smith did grab a late score for Wakefield but Hull KR held on to record a narrow win and make it four wins from as many games in The Qualifiers.

Elsewhere, former New Zealand Warrior Patrick Ah Van and Joe Mellor both grabbed hat-tricks as Widnes Vikings won 56-12 at Bradford Bulls to stay two points behind Hull KR in second.

The hosts had scored the first try of the game through Adrian Purtell and only trailed 14-12 at half-time as Omari Caro scored a late try.

But while Bradford failed to add to their points haul after the interval the visiting Vikings had no such trouble as Mellor and Ah Van both completed their hat-tricks, with Charly Runciman, Hep Cahill, Rhys Hanbury and captain Kevin Brown all grabbing one try each.

Leigh were similarly big winners as they beat Sheffield 52-16 in front of their home fans with Ryan Brierly this time helping himself to a hat-trick.

He was joined on the scoresheet by Mickey Higham, Andrew Dixon, Liam Kay, Fuifui Moimoi, Tommy Goulden and Gregg McNally, while the visiting Eagles could only muster three scores in reply for James Davey, Scott Turner and Sam Smeaton.

Saturday saw Salford ease to a 50-28 victory at Halifax to record their third victory from four matches in The Qualifiers despite parting company with coach Iestyn Harris in the week.

Niall Evalds crossed twice in the first 15 minutes for the Red Devils before Dane Manning went over for the hosts.

Tries from Greg Johnson and Ben Jones-Bishop made it 22-6 to the visitors at the break before Scott Murrell, James Saltonstall and Jacob Fairbank scored to give the hosts hope.

But Evalds, Jones-Bishop and Johnson all completed their hat-tricks before Adam Tangata’s consolation try for Halifax, who have now lost all four of their games and are set for another season in the second tier.

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