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St Helens kept pace with Super League leaders Wigan as an improved second-half performance saw them beat Hull KR.

Alex Walmsley and Jack Welsby put Saints ahead but Adam Quinlan and Ethan Ryan scored two tries in two minutes as Hull KR made it level at the break.

Kevin Naiqama restored Saints' lead in the second half while Aaron Smith did well to touch down on the hour mark.

Welsby crossed once more before Matt Parcell scored a consolation for Hull KR 10 minutes from full-time.

Wigan had moved four points clear at the Super League summit on Saturday with their win over Castleford, but St Helens' victory keeps them second and moves them within two points of the leaders.

Hull KR remain bottom, two points off 10th-placed Salford Red Devils.

Saints were without Tommy Makinson as he began a five-game suspension so Welsby came into the side, while Regan Grace made his 100th appearance for the club in the fixture.

Despite Saints opening up a 12-0 lead early on, Quinlan pulled off an impressive score under pressure at the corner to halve their lead.

Just moments later, Ryan managed to ground the ball off the back of a Grace fumble to claw Rovers back while Jamie Ellis' penalty goal on the hooter sent them in on level terms at the break.

Hull KR were unfortunate with injuries in the second half as Quinlan went straight to hospital with a suspected broken and dislocated wrist, while the game was halted for several minutes as Ryan Brierley received treatment on an ankle injury.

Rovers valiantly kept the pressure on Saints in the first half but struggled to keep up after the break, despite Parcell's try giving them hope of a comeback.

Hull KR: Quinlan, Kenny-Dowall, Linnett, Minkin, Parcell, Hauraki, Lawler, Ryan, Gee, Storton, Ellis, Brierley, Peteru.

Interchanges: Mulhern, Hadley, Murray, Maher.

St Helens: Coote, Naiqama, Grace, Lomax, Fages, Walmsley, Roby, Taia, Lees, Bentley, Costello, Welsby, Graham.

Interchanges: Peyroux, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Amor, Smith.

Referee: S. Mikalauskas.