Tyrone May's first career hat-trick propelled defending champions Hull Kingston Rovers into the Challenge Cup semi-finals with a commanding 48-10 victory over York Knights on Friday night.
May opened the scoring just 90 seconds into the match and added two more tries in a three-minute second-half burst as the Robins avenged their surprise opening-night loss to the Super League newcomers from February. The victory extends Hull KR's impressive run to five wins in their last six matches across all competitions.
"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," noted match analysts.
Willie Peters' side demonstrated their championship pedigree with eight different try-scorers. Alongside May's triple, Sauaso Sue, Jack Broadbent, Jai Whitbread, Mikey Lewis, and Joe Burgess all crossed the line for the hosts. Rhyse Martin, returning from injury, contributed four successful kicks.
York, struggling with injuries that forced them to field four loan players, managed only two consolation tries through Xavier Va'a and Myles Harrison. The Knights have won just one Super League match since their historic victory over Rovers two months ago.
Mikey Lewis provided one of the night's highlights with a spectacular individual effort early in the second half. The crafty halfback chipped ahead, leaped to control an awkward bounce, and acrobatically touched down just before running out of in-goal space.
"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," described the match report.
The victory sets up a Challenge Cup semi-final appearance for the holders as they continue their defense of the trophy they claimed in 2025. York, meanwhile, will return to Super League action looking to improve their league form after this comprehensive cup defeat.