A THRILLING finale to the Magic weekend went Hull Kingston Rovers’ away with Ben Galea’s second try in the final minute.

Wolves, ahead 16-12 at the break, were chasing the game for most of the second half and never got back on top after falling behind for the first time in the 44th minute.

Scoring went from end to end after Rovers went in front but Wolves ultimately paid the price for not completing their sets with kicks at the start of the second half, when the Robins took control and managed to stay one step ahead until the final hooter.

The win puts Hull KR ssecond in the table, a point behind St Helens, while Wolves are 11th on the same points as Catalans Dragons and six points adrift of the top eight.

Wolves went into the game with Chris Bridge at stand off, stepping in for regular number six Lee Briers who was sidelined with a hamstring injury picked up against Huddersfield Giants last weekend.

Other changes in the backline saw Paul Johnson move off the left wing to replace Bridge at right centre, with Simon Grix starting at left centre and Matt King moving on to the wing.

And in the pack, Wolves were without Adrian Morley (broken bone in hand), Louis Anderson (rib problem) and Paul Wood (back injury), with Paul Rauhihi joining Garreth Carvell as a starting prop.

Wolves got off to another flyer, as in previous weeks against Bradford and Huddersfield.

Chris Riley was held up a metre short by Peter Fox after a 50m move involving Michael Monaghan, Vinnie Anderson and Simon Grix on Wolves’ left.

Wolves earned a penalty and after Paul Rauhihi’s drive in, Chris Bridge threw out a long ball for Chris Hicks to go over. Hicks also converted from wide out.

Rovers were soon back on level terms, though.

Rauhihi gave a penalty away for ball stealing and Shaun Briscoe made him pay, crashing over from Galea’s short pass, and Michael Dobson converted.

Wolves then cut open the Robins on the left for a second time, with Grix breaking away off Anderson’s feed and Monaghan supporting on the inside to finish off a 50m score. Hicks’ goal attempt was wide, leaving Wolves 10-6 ahead with 12 minutes gone.

And then they crossed on Rovers’ right again, this time a switch of play on the narrow side and a decoy run from Grix bamboozling the defence with Anderson the man to cash in. Hicks added the extras and it was 16-6 with 16 minutes played.

Wolves started to undo that good work when Garreth Carvell was penalised for stealing and a succession of indiscretions left Tony Smith’s men desperately defending their own line.

Eventually a huge gap opened up for Dobson to get over the whitewash and he added the conversion to reduce the gap to 16-12.

Although ahead at the break, Wolves seemed to lose their way when the experienced players left the field for a breather.

By the time big boys Carvell and Rauhihi returned, Wolves’ slender half-time advantage had been taken away from them with Hull KR going 24-16 ahead.

Rovers went ahead for the first time four minutes into the second half on the back of Lee Mitchell giving away a penalty for obstructing the Robins' kicker chaser on the last tackle.

Mick Vella capitalised, powering through Ben Harrison from close range off a Galea feed. Dobson’s goal made it 18-16 to the Humbersiders.

Warrington’s failure to get a kick in on their next fifth tackle cost them dearly.

Rovers secured a 40/20 through Scott Murrell to lay the platform for Daniel Fitzhenry and Dobson to fire the ball wide for Clint Newton to touch down with a stretch. Dobson’s extras put Rovers 24-16 ahead.

Wolves tried to turn the momentum with Ben Westwood going close and referee Richard Silverwood failing to spot a high tackle on Matty Blythe earlier in the move.

And then Hicks was set for his second try from a Clarke dash down the narrow side but Bridge’s pass sailed into touch with the try line begging.

Hicks did get over a few moments later, though, thanks to Clarke’s vision from dummy half, spotting the winger unmarked and feeding the perfect pass for the Australian to walk over unopposed. He also converted from the touchline to leave Wolves trailing 24-22 with 15 minutes to go.

But another penalty piggy-backed Rovers deep into Wolves territory, where Galea stepped Anderson and Riley on a 20m burst to touch down in the 69th minute. Dobson’s conversion restored Rovers’ eight-point cushion.

Again Wolves hit back with Hicks being held up short but the ball was spun wide for Monaghan to put Anderson over for his second try, with Hicks’ conversion leaving Wolves two points behind with three minutes left.

But Galea wrapped things up in the final minute, leaving Wolves as losers for the first time in a Magic event.

Wolves: Chris Riley; Chris Hicks, Paul Johnson, Simon Grix, Matt King; Chris Bridge, Michael Monaghan; Garreth Carvell, Jon Clarke, Paul Rauhihi, Ben Westwood, Vinnie Anderson, Ben Harrison. Subs: Mickey Higham, Mike Cooper, Matty Blythe, Lee Mitchell.

Rovers: Shaun Briscoe; Peter Fox, Jake Webster, Kris Welham, Liam Colbon; Paul Cooke, Michael Dobson; Mick Vella, Ben Fisher, Scott Wheeldon, Clint Newton, Ben Galea, Scott Murrell. Subs: Makali Aizue, David Mills, Jason Netherton, Daniel Fitzhenry.