Hull KR 20 - Leeds 24: McDermott's Rhinos secure precious win
BRIAN McDERMOTT could not hide his relief after renascent Leeds claimed a precious victory which guaranteed them four home games in the forthcoming Qualifiers.
The Rhinos won the treble last year but their 2016 has been little short of disastrous.
Yet timing is all and as they bid to safeguard their Super League status in the end-of-season lottery, they will do so in buoyant mood after winning their fifth game in six outings.
Late tries from hooker James Segeyaro and winger Ryan Hall sealed the win and condemned Hull KR to a bottom-two finish and subsequent four away games in the Qualifiers.
McDermott said: “There was a lot of anxious energy out there because there was a chance we could have finished bottom.
Yet Rovers replied in the 35th minute when Maurice Blair collected Albert Kelly’s sublime pass to finish off a flowing move in the left corner.
Two minutes after the restart, Rovers were back in front through Ken Sio but Segeyaro and Hall went over before Kieran Dixon’s late consolation for the hosts.
Rovers boss James Webster said: “We tried really hard and probably deserved something out of the game.
“But we need to be more clinical and I’m not going to hide from the fact we need to improve in these next seven games.”