Hull KR 36, Cougar 6 - A hat-trick of tries from livewire stand off James Webster gave Hull Kingston Rovers a National Rail Cup double over the Cougars.

The Australian crossed three times in the first half as the Robins ran out winners in a game played in atrocious conditions. The Cougars couldn't repeat their heroic performance from Cougar Park when they lost by a single point 27-26.

Coach Gary Moorby admitted his side were beaten by a bigger and more physical side. However, he will be taking quite a few positives out of this defeat against higher division opposition especially away from home.

"I think Hull KR played the conditions better than we did as they are a bigger and more physical side than us," said Moorby.

"Last week we stood our ground well but today they got the upper hand. I was disappointed with our ball control in the first half and they took full advantage. I think we will take a lot out of these two games as they have been two very hard and intense games."

The Cougars were hit by the flying Robins as early as the third minute when Webster combined well with Phil Hasty and Dale Holdstock. He then cut through seven minutes later off the back of a penalty against the Cougars for offside. Craig Poucher added two conversions and a penalty for a lead of 14-0 inside the first 15 minutes.

The Cougars found it hard to break down the Rovers defence and were constantly tied up in their own half. Matt Firth was forced to kick them out of trouble without them making much headway with ball in hand which led to a poor completion rate in the first period.

They did manage to find a way through the home defence as they had last week by use of the kick from Firth. His neat shot into the in goal area was pounced upon by Matt Foster and Adam Mitchell landed the goal.

Keighley tried to build on this try despite coming up against a rock solid Rovers defence and one which marshalled the movements of danger men Daniel Harvey and Jon Wainhouse. The home side then turned defence into attack through that man Webster.

Just before the half hour he showed great pace and power for such a small man to force his way over in the corner. His side then continued to pressure and went in at halftime leading 24-6 thanks to a real forward effort.

Keighley were forced to drop out after Andy Robinson was pushed back over his line off a Webster kick. Robins second row forward Andy Raleigh took the ball in before Jamie Bovill sent Papua New Guinea international Makali Aizue thundering over the line. Poucher again added the conversion.

It was a second half in which the mistakes tally became greater as the mud became thicker with both sides defensively solid. But the home side registered three late tries both instigated by Paul Mansson for a 30 point winning margin.

The first saw the centre put Paul Parker in at the corner before he sent Raliegh in for his customary effort. Mansson then launched a high kick which was allowed to bounce and Cook Islander Kane Epati pounced on the ball.

Moorby was left disappointed but not disheartened by what he knows have been two massive games to open the season. Not the games he would have chosen but he takes his side on to Gateshead next week .

"You have to look for the positives and we didn't stop trying, and the last time we came here we had 50 points put past us. I know today was still a fairly big scoreline but we kept working hard but the half backs kept having a little dig.

"To have Hull KR two weeks running is about as tough as it gets but we'll take the positives into our game against London Skolars next week. We'll move on again but overall we were not too disappointed with our performance."