There can have been fewer more important, or more significant, matches in 2019 than tonights' clash between Hull KR and the London Broncos. A win for the home side would guarantee them Super League in 2020, but an away victory would send the relegation battle into the last weekend of the season.
KR had Craig Hall, Mitch Garbutt and Matt Parcell back to bolster their chances in an experienced side who have been in this position before. The Broncos had Daniel Hindmarsh in for Mark Iaone and know how to win when the pressure is on.
Hull KR were strong favourites with the bookies to do the business and get the crucial two points, but London have sprung plenty of surprises in 2019.
It was the best possible start for the Broncos after an early error from Ryan Shaw gifted the visitors possession on the Robins twenty. A couple of fantastic passes saw the ball in the hands of Matty Gee who sidestepped Josh Drinkwater to go in. Kieron Dixon added the conversion in near silence.
The second London try came on nine minutes with Brock Lamb hitting a gap in the KR line and running fifty metres to score under the uprights without a defensive hand laid on him. Dixon added the extra two, in off the upright, for a 12-0 lead.
Will Dagger scored on twenty-one, much to the relief of the masses of KR supporters, when he exploited an overlap down the right hand side and rounded behind the sticks to make the Shaw conversion a formality.
On twenty-seven KR had a try ruled out for an offside at the kick and within a minute the clock was stopped for several minutes while Jimmy Keinhorst was stretchered off the field.
The last scoring action of the half was a Dixon penalty goal from twenty-five metres to extend the lead to 14-6.
Five minutes after the restart and KR were right back in the game thanks to a Chris Atkin spin and ground, under the tackle after throwing a dummy and going through the line. Shaw converted brilliantly from the touchline and the home side were back within two points of the visitors.
KR hit the front with a Danny McGuire poachers try as he was on hand to take a Dagger switch pass to wrongfoot the Broncos defence and score in the corner. Shaw was unable to add the conversion, the two point lead now with the home side.
After interference at the play the ball Dixon failed to kick a thirty-five metre penalty which would have levelled the scores.
On seventy-seven, after a sensational passage of play, Jay Pitts hit the line at speed and got the ball on the ground for a priceless four pointer. Dixon added the conversion for a four point lead with seventy seconds remaining on the clock.
A sensational win for London, once again against the odds, has set up the final round to end all final rounds. All eyes will now be on next Sunday when and one from London Broncos, Hull KR, Huddersfield Giants or Wakefield Trinity could find themselves taking the drop into the Betfred Championship.
All credit the Broncos for overcoming the odds and stealing the points at the death, another nail-biting weekend ahead for four clubs.
KR: Hall, Dagger (T), Crooks, Keinhorst, Shaw (2G), Drinkwater, McGuire (T), Mulhern, Parcell, Murray, Tomkins, Hauraki, Hadley. Subs: Garbutt, Trout, Masoe, Atkin (T).
Broncos: Walker, Dixon (4G), Morgan, Kear, Williams, Abdull, Lamb (T), Battye, Cunningham, Butler, Pitts (T), Gee (T), Yates. Subs: Fozard, Mason, Hindmarsh, Armitage.
Referee: James Child.
Half-Time: 6-14.
Full-Time: 16-20.
Attendance: .
