 The league counts for nothing when the Cup comes to town, and tonight it was making its first appearance of a two night run in Hull, as KR had a battle royal against the poor-travelling Catalans Dragons with a place in the semi-finals the glittering reward for the winners.
The Dragons haven't won outside France since the beginning of April and would need to take their excellent home form to Craven Park to take on a a Robins side who have put in some massive performances against decent opposition, often belying their current league position.
The bookies and the pundits could choose little between the sides and a decent crowd anticipated the kick-off of a game that was too close to call.
The first try of the game came from a fifty metre Ken Sio break down the right wing after the Dragons had lost the ball to touch. Josh Mantellato kicked the extras for 6-0.
When the Dragons again coughed up possession in their own half, the Robins kept the ball alive and Kieran Dixon juggled the ball and went over from from five metres out. Mantellato again added the extras and it was already 12-0.
Within two minutes it was three converted tries as Mantellato pinched a high kick from the hands of Morgan Escare before passing off the ground for Albert Kelly to dive over. Mantellato's goal made it 18-0 after nineteen minutes and it was all too easy for the home side.
After stemming the tide for ten minutes, Shaun Lunt and Josh Mantellato were the providers for Graeme Horne to score by the posts making the kick a simple one for 24-0.
The Dragons finally got a score on thirty-four minutes when Louis Anderson had gone close, before a grubber to the corner from Elliott Whitehead was grounded easily by Krisnan Inu. Scott Dureau pushed his conversion attempt in front of the sticks but it gave a slight glimmer of hope to the Dragons just before the break.
After being penalised for a high tackle on the half time hooter, the Dragons spoke out of turn and conceded another ten metres allowing Mantellato to kick a penalty goal and extend the lead to twenty-two points at the interval.
The Dragons did just what Laurent Frayssinous asked and got the first score of the second half after a two quick penalties allowed the pressure for Zeb Taia to go over off an Ian Henderson pass. Scott Dureau was successful with the kick to reduce the margin to 26-10.
Five minutes more on the clock and the Dragons were over again after a pinpoint grubber kick from Tony Gigot was grounded by a flying Inu. Dureau again failed to add the extras and left his side still needing three scores for the win.
The home win seemed to be sealed on sixty-four when Ken Sio flew over in the right corner for a spectacular one-handed score. Mantellato failed with a difficult touch line conversion attempt but with just fifteen minutes left on the clock there was no easy way back.
But no-one told the Dragons. On sixty-six Ian Henderson managed to punch his way over and gave Dureau a simple conversion for 30-20. A ten point gap with thirteen minutes left.
On seventy-one Mantellato kicked a penalty after a foul in the tackle and the Dragons needed two converted tries to push the game into golden point.
An Elliott Whitehead try off a grubber kick in the seventh-eighth minute set up a nail biting last sixty seconds after Dureau added the extras for 32-26. But KR held on for the victory and a semi-final place.
Some daft mistakes and ill-discipline in the first half cost the Dragons dear but the Robins took their chances and in the end they progress in the competition thanks to Mantellato kicking six goals to Dureau's three. The final result was closer than it should have been, KR did it the hard way.
KR: Dixon (T), Sio (2T), Salter, Welham, Mantellato (6G), Blair, Kelly (T), Walker, Boudebza, Puletua, Larroyer, Horne (T), McCarthy. Subs: Lunt, Donaldson, Greenwood, Tilse.
Catalans: Escare, Inu (2T), Gigot, Pomeroy, Yaha, Robin, Dureau (3G), Bosquet, Henderson (T), Casty, Taia (T), Whitehead (T), Baitieri. Subs: Anderson, Mounis, Pelissier, Garcia.
Referee: Phil Bentham
Attendance: 6,073
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