Hull KR 39 Wigan 22

Michael Dobson, the scrum half, inspired a remarkable and compelling comeback yesterday as Hull Kingston Rovers scored 29 unanswered points to overturn a 12-point deficit and end their six-game losing streak.

The 22-year-old Australian produced his best performance since moving to East Hull in May, scoring four tries and adding a dropped goal to see off his former club.

“Michael was outstanding, wasn't he?” Justin Morgan, the Rovers coach, said. “He's a fairly level-headed kid and he knows it takes time to settle in. I spoke to him about enjoying himself, because he's fallen into the habit of trying to do everything. Today we just gave him a couple of things to do and he did those very well.”

Dobson had the option of returning to Wigan but choose Rovers instead, a decision that proved devastating yesterday for the Warriors' slim hopes of a top-three finish in the engage Super League. “It was like a shark frenzy,” Brian Noble, the Wigan coach, said. “If you give them anything, then they'll feed on it. Some of the things we did after we got 22-10 up cost us and Dobson's kicking game was outstanding.”

There was little sign of what was to come when Joel Tomkins cancelled out Kirk Netherton's early effort and George Carmont, the centre, struck with two tries either side of Dobson's first to give Wigan a six-point lead at half-time. Pat Richards appeared to have put the game beyond Rovers' reach when he swerved past Chaz I'Anson, but Dobson's second try kick-started the home team and exposed Wigan's frailties.

I'Anson then created enough space for Jon Steel to beat Thomas Leuluai before Dobson let rip, gathering his own grubber kick to complete his hat-trick and coolly adding a dropped goal to push Rovers two scores clear. Dobson's fourth, from Stanley Gene's burst, completed his individual haul of 17 points before he fed Rhys Lovegrove to add the finishing touches.

Scorers: Hull Kingston Rovers: Tries: K Netherton, Dobson 4, Steel, Lovegrove. Goals: Cooke 5. Dropped goal: Dobson. Wigan Warriors: Tries: Tomkins, Carmont 2, Richards. Goals: Richards 3.
Hull Kingston Rovers: D Fitzhenry; J Steel, K Welham, J Webster, R Lovegrove; B Galea, M Dobson; G Crossman, K Netherton, D Mills, M Vella, S Gene, P Cooke. Interchange: C I'Anson, M Aizue, J Netherton, B Fisher.
Wigan Warriors: P Richards; M Calderwood, D Goulding, G Carmont, C Phelps; T Barrett, T Leuluai; S Fielden, M Higham, A Coley, H Hansen, J Tomkins, G Hock. Interchange:M McIlorum, L Colbon, S O'Loughlin, I Paleaaesina.
Referee: I Smith.