Hornets 26 Hull K.R. 30

With one minute left on the clock and the scores tied-up at 26-all, it had been a titanic struggle. Two sides more than making up for flaky defences with great attacking rugby league and a refusal to lie down.

And so it came: Hornets on the fourth tackle; set 20 metres from the Robins' posts. Pachniuk's pass, Watson's drop kick to steal the game - and then...

A tentative first fifteen minutes were punctuated only by an exchange of penalties, but it was the Robins who took the lead. The ball was smartly shipped wide via Tawhai, Mansson and Poucher who had enough room left to squeeze McClarron in at the corner.

Hornets sparked into life. A break by Radney Bowker took the ball upfield and neat hands from Chris Irwin and Paul Smith created the opening for James Bunyan to crash in and score.

Just four minutes later Hornets were in again.

A fumble behind his own line by Robins winger Farrell gave Hornets posession and, from the scrum, Smith and Bunyan weaved a neat blind side move to send Mick Nanyn in at the corner.

Having opened up daylight between the sides, Hornets switched off. Two tries in six minutes put Rovers back in control - one from Poucher on the end of swift handling, the other a long distance break from Aizue who found Stott in support to complete a 50 metre move.

As has happened so many times this season, Hornets turned to the Bowker/Larder combination to grab the half time lead. Bowker's grubber through the line, the Rovers' defence standing off, Larder showing good soccer skills to dribble the ball past defenders and score.

Nanyn's conversion broke the ten-year old club record for points in a season and Hornets went in 18-16 up.

Hornets opened the second half in determined mood. With the game so finely balanced, whoever scored first would grasp the advantage. On 42 minutes Hornets had their chance. Roper intercepted a dreadful pass from Poucher and raced away, Stott tracked him over 50 metres and hauled him down. Hornets worked the ball right and Matt Long crashed in only to be ruled 'held-up' over the line. Hornets made hard work of the resulting back-to-back set and Hull KR came up with possession.

They took posession yet again two minutes later when a last tackle kick by Bowker sailed into touch on the full - and this time they made no mistake. Mansson embarked on a weaving run; Hornets defenders stood off him - right up to the point where he put, the ball down.

Rovers edged back in front...

... but not for long; Nanyn equalled the scores with a penalty after Pacnhiuk was clattered off the ball.

On the hour, Rovers again seized the game by the scruff. Again, defenders backing off Mansson: this time he found Andrews on his shoulder to score. Stott added the extras and Rovers led 26-20 going into the crucial last quarter.

Once again, Hornets dug deep and worked the ball downfield. Good vision and hands from Watson out wide found Calland arriving at pace and he showed good strength to shrugg off defenders to score by the flag. Nanyn missed the conversion; 24-26.

Nanyn's 73rd minute penalty again equalled the scores at 26-all.

It had been a titanic struggle. Two sides more than making up for flaky defences with great attacking rugby league and a refusal to lie down.

And so it came: One minute left on the clock; Hornets on the fourth tackle; set 20 metres from the Robins' posts. Pachniuk's pass, Watson's drop kick to steal the game - and then...

Stott's chargedown bounced favourably into the hands of Tawhai; he found Parker arriving at full speed and he outpaced a desperate chasing Hornets defence to score from 70 metres. Heartbreak.

There's no doubt that any neutrals in the ground would havce been thrilled by the game's remarkable denouement. But the silence from the mainstand spoke volumes for the disappointment of the Hornets supporters who'd seen their team stumble and fall at this stage of the season once again.

Fair play to Hull KR - they saw their chance and took it. But it was a cruel way for a season to end.