Hull Kingston Rovers fell narrowly to Wakefield Trinity in a closely contested Super League match at the DIY Kitchens Stadium on Sunday, losing 26-24 in a game marked by intense physicality and disciplinary action. The clash, part of round 13 fixtures, featured two red cards and two sin-bin penalties, culminating in a decisive late score by Mason Lino.

Wakefield took an early lead when Oliver Pratt crossed the line at the 16-minute mark. The match quickly escalated in intensity, with Lino receiving a yellow card for a high forearm on Hull KR’s Joe Burgess, who himself was sent to the sidelines following a reactionary incident in the aftermath. Despite the interruption, Hull KR responded with tries from Mikey Lewis, Jai Whitbread, Sam Luckley, and Tyrone May, showcasing their offensive resilience.

Wakefield fought back with tries from Josh Rourke and Cam Scott in quick succession, regaining control shortly before halftime. Just before the break, Hull KR produced a surprise try, with May’s kick expertly gathered by Whitbread, who was celebrating the birth of his first child earlier in the week. This allowed them to close the half trailing 16-12.

The second half began with a Wakefield try from Matty Storton, who scored against his former club to extend the lead to 20-12. Luckley added another try for Hull KR to keep the contest close. The game’s physicality intensified further when two red cards were issued within five minutes: Storton was dismissed for high contact on James Batchelor, while Sauaso Sue received a red card for a swinging arm on Tray Lolesio.

May’s try just after the hour mark gave Hull KR hope of a comeback, but the match-winning moment came in the final minutes when Lino capitalised on an offload from Jay Pitts to cross the line. He then successfully converted his own try, sealing Wakefield’s victory with just two minutes remaining.

Hull KR head coach Willie Peters acknowledged the team's determination but admitted they fell short. “I thought we had a lot of fight in us. They were on top early but we found a way to get back in and showed a bit of grit. It could have gotten away from us, but we found some fight, which I’m proud of,” Peters commented following the match. The result marks a challenging step for Hull KR as they seek to rebound from their recent Challenge Cup Final defeat.