Hull KR see off Wire to win League Leaders' Shield

Betfred Super League

Hull KR (16) 28

Tries: May 2, Booth 2, Mourgue Goals: Martin 4

Warrington Wolves (6) 20

Tries: Josh Thewlis 2, Stone, Holroyd Goals: Sneyd 2

Arthur Mourgue's brilliant solo try inspired Hull Kingston Rovers to a historic first League Leaders' Shield as they edged out a spirited Warrington Wolves.

The Robins needed to win to pip Wigan Warriors, and they seemed to have done the hard work as they built a 10-point half-time lead as Noah Booth's double and a try from Tyrone May replied to Josh Thewlis' early score.

Warrington, who had won just one of their previous eight and fielded a young team, responded magnificently as Sam Stone, Adam Holroyd and Josh Thewlis' second score silenced the crowd to put the Wire back in the lead.

Mourgue ran in his try from deep in his own half, and May completed his double on the night to make sure Rovers finished top of the league for the first time since the 1984-85 season to add to their Challenge Cup victory in June.

They also beat Warrington to win that trophy in a dramatic late comeback, but the Wolves' season has fallen apart since then, and only seven of the team that featured that day were on show at Craven Park.

Head coach Sam Burgess was forced to field a young team due to injury and suspension, and he pulled several players from the squad due to face Leeds Rhinos in the Reserves Grand Final at the weekend to bolster his squad.

That hardly gave confidence to the travelling support, or to watching Wigan Warriors fans, who knew a Rovers slip-up would give them an outside chance of overhauling the leaders' superior points difference against Leeds on Friday night.

Warrington shocked everyone with a great start, as winger Josh Thewlis caught Marc Sneyd's high bomb and scored, with Robins' youngster Booth failing to compete for the ball.

It did not seem to matter as May accelerated through a gap to score, and then 20-year-old Booth made it seven tries in six appearances since returning from his loan at Hunslet with a double before the interval.

That comfortable half-time lead was reduced as 17-year-old stand-off Ewan Irwin, making his first start for Warrington, produced a delicate grubber kick for Sam Stone to touch down.

Then Holroyd crashed through the line to level the score and, improbably, Josh Thewlis scored his second from Matt Dufty's superb flick pass.

The home fans, who had seen Wakefield Trinity ruin the title party last week, feared a repeat, but Mourgue turned the game by running in a try from deep in his own half, and Rhyse Martin's conversion edged them back ahead.

The palpable tension was relieved as May scooted through to score his second try and Martin added the extras to start the celebrations.

Hull KR: Mourgue; Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Booth; Lewis, May; Sue, Litten, Waerea-Hargreaves, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella.

Interchanges: Luckley, Whitbread, Martin, Broadbent.

Warrington Wolves: Taylor-Wray; Josh Thewlis, King, Dufty, Jake Thewlis; Irwin, Sneyd; Philbin, Walker, Thomas, Stone, Holroyd, Matterson.

Interchanges: Powell, Green, Wood, McKinney.

Referee: Aaron Moore.