Briers boots out Robins
Lee Briers' drop goal in golden-point overtime clinched Warrington a 25-24 win over Hull KR in the Carnegie Challenge Cup.
Last Updated: 31/05/09 5:45pm
Lee Briers kicked Warrington into the semi-finals of the Carnegie Challenge Cup as his sudden-death drop goal saw off Hull KR at Craven Park.
The stand-off found the target at the fourth time of asking on the night to clinch a stunning 25-24 victory for the Wolves in golden-point overtime.
There had been nothing to separate the two Super League sides in the original 80 minutes, both managing four tries apiece.
In a topsy-turvy tie, Rovers had needed a penalty from Michael Dobson just two minutes from the final hooter to level the scores and force overtime.
Tense finish
The Australian scrum-half held his nerve to bring Rovers level after they had been unable to hang onto a 22-12 lead with just 20 minutes to play.
It had all started so well for the hosts when Kris Welham accepted Peter Fox's inside pass to dive over and break the deadlock after only two minutes.
Warrington hit back with a close range effort from Louis Anderson, Chris Bridge's conversion meaning the scores were locked together at 6-6.
It was the Wolves who drew first blood after the break with Jon Clarke cantering over from a Matt King pass that the Hull KR supporters were adamant went forward, meaning a chorus of boos greeted the scorer when he eventually touched down.
However, the fans' disappointment did not last for long. Clint Newton found a huge hole on the right to rumble over before a lucky break let in Ben Galea.
The second-rower was in the right place to capitalise on a moment of misfortune for Richard Mathers, the full-back being beaten by a horrible bounce as he waited to deal with a harmless grubber kick.
Scott Murrell's decision to run on the last then resulted in a flowing counter-attacking move that was finished off by Jake Webster.
Comeback
But in the space of four minutes Warrington managed to turn a 10-point deficit into a two-point advantage.
Briers was the architect of the comeback, firstly kicking to the right corner for King, who worked wonders in a tight space to ground the ball despite the attentions of Fox.
The Wales international then had a hand in the Wolves' fourth try, supporting a rampaging Adrian Morley before offloading for Bridge to take over the line.
Although they couldn't cling on in regulation, the visitors were not to be denied a place in the last four and fittingly it was Briers who made sure their name would be in the draw when he finally found the target with a one-pointer.
