May hat-trick helps holders Hull KR thump York in cup

Betfred Challenge Cup

Hull KR (24) 48

Tries: May 3, Sue, Broadbent, Whitbread, Lewis, Burgess Goals: R. Martin 4, Lewis 3, Litten

York (6) 10

Tries: Va'a, Harrison Goals: Harrison

Tyrone May claimed a hat-trick as holders Hull Kingston Rovers reached the Challenge Cup semi-finals with a dominant display against York Knights.

The Super League newcomers shocked last season's treble winners with a victory on the opening night of the season in February, but this time they ran into a side which was out for revenge and in no mood to give up the first of those trophies they won in 2025.

May opened the scoring after 90 seconds and added two more tries inside three minutes in the second half as Rovers suffocated a side which had only won one Super League game since that momentous victory two months ago.

Willie Peters' side made it five wins from the past six in all competitions as Sauaso Sue, Jack Broadbent, Jai Whitbread, Mikey Lewis and Joe Burgess all went over the line, with Xavier Va'a and Myles Harrison replying for the away side.

York made a little bit of history when they pulled off that win at the York Community Stadium, but injuries have bitten deep into their squad, and they had four loan players on the field at Sewell Group Craven Park against a Rovers side that is now in full flow.

Lewis made a break as the Robins attacked from the start and when Oliver Gildart supported him and fed May, the writing was already on the wall for York, who started sluggishly.

Sue barged over the line from a pass by the ubiquitous Jez Litten, but York threatened to make a game of it as the wind blew Lewis' goal-line drop-out short, and Xavier Va'a made use of the attacking platform to barge over.

The response was instant as Lewis fed Broadbent for a try and Whitbread muscled his way over, while Rhyse Martin, back from injury, kicked a penalty and two conversions to put distance between the sides at half-time.

Lewis conjured a typical piece of magic shortly into the second half, chipping ahead, leaping high to get a controlling touch to the ball after it bounced awkwardly high, before acrobatically touching down just before he ran out of in-goal.

Harrison, one of York's four loanees, scored in the corner, but the procession continued for the hosts as May struck twice in quick succession to secure the first hat-trick of his 12-year senior career, and Joe Burgess finished spectacularly in the corner as the full-time hooter sounded.

Hull KR boss Willie Peters told BBC Sport:

"There's things I really liked but there's things we need to do better, that's for sure.

"Everyone wants to start well. We're no different. We wanted to start well in that second half as well but there were moments when I didn't think we did.

"Every team always talks about a good start and then hopefully you keep momentum off the back. And we did start the game well."

Hull KR scrum-half Tyrone May told BBC Sport:

"Going into every match of the Challenge Cup it's do or die. Everyone has the same amount of pressure.

"All the talk about us being the holders - yes we are, but we also know it's not ours at the moment and we have to go and get it.

[On his hat-trick] "It's nice. Most of them were just support tries and it's good to get it when you're supported and it came off today."

York Knights head coach Mark Applegarth told BBC Sport:

"I thought KR showed exactly why they're a champion team today. It was a disappointing start. They left us chasing our tail a little bit.

"I can understand the disconnect given the changes we made. But one thing I am pleased with is that we kept on fighting to the end.

"Congratulations to Hull KR. We'll be alright. We'll stick together. There's some pretty harsh lessons there but as long as we are learning, we'll move forward.

"We weren't naive to not know there would be some scorelines like that this year. Especially if we lost some of our key members.

"There's a lot of lads hurting in there and it's my job as coach to make sure everyone stays together and doesn't start turning on each other.

"Sometimes you've got to tip your hat and say you were outplayed, and I thought we were outplayed against Hull KR."

Hull KR: Broadbent; Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Burgess; Lewis, May; Sue, Litten, Amone, R Martin, Batchelor, Hadley.

Interchanges: Luckley, Whitbread, Brown, Lawton.

York: Williams; Harrison, Law, Buchanan, Galeano; Hingano, McShane; Va'a, Balmforth, Vaughan, Field, Dee, Griffin.

Interchanges: J. Martin, Sangare, Cook, Smith.

Referee: Marcus Griffiths.