St Helens (12) 19
Tries: Puletua, Wheeler, Wellens Goals: Long 3 Drop: Long
Hull KR (6) 20
Tries: Galea, Fox, Webster Goals: Dobson 4
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Michael Dobson proved Hull KR's hero yet again as his 75th-minute penalty gave them a famous win over St Helens.
Sean Long's 70th-minute drop-goal handed Saints a 19-18 advantage but they conceded a penalty for some slack defence and were made to pay.
Three times Saints led, through converted tries from Tony Puletua, Gary Wheeler and Paul Wellens.
But Rovers hit back with scores from Ben Galea, Peter Fox and Jake Webster with Dobson adding the extras.
Dobson had rescued a point for his side in their opening draw against Bradford and he was again the key figure as Justin Morgan's men claimed their opening win of the season.
Saints took the lead when Puletua showed some great strength to go over from close range and Long, who had struggled with his kicking in the early part of the season, added the extras.
But Dobson's pass found Galea in the 22nd minute and he crashed over under the posts, with Dobson adding the conversion to level the match.
Saints regained the momentum and grabbed their second try just before the break with academy graduate Wheeler going over in the corner, and Long converted from a difficult angle.
However, it was the visitors who made the brighter start to the second half with Ade Gardner struggling to deal with Dobson's kick, allowing Chev Walker to collect the loose ball and produce a neat short off-load which sent Fox scampering over in the left corner.
Dobson's conversion levelled matters at 12-12 but parity only lasted for three minutes as Long sent Wellens over the whitewash and then added the conversion.
But Webster touched down after a Dobson kick and the scrum-half converted for 18-18 before the late drama.
St Helens coach Mick Potter:
"We knew it would be tough but we made too many errors.
"Yes, we missed (Chris) Flannery and we missed Leon (Pryce) but we certainly won't be slashing our wrists over this result."
Hull KR coach Justin Morgan:
"It has been a long time since Hull KR have won here.
"To come here and win is a huge achievement - but we need to back it up now against Wakefield next week.
"We've beaten St Helens at home in the past couple of seasons but I won't be carried away until we put together a run of five or six games unbeaten."
St Helens: Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Gilmour, Armstrong, Roby, Long, Graham, Cunningham, Hargreaves, Puletua, Wilkin, Clough.
Replacements: Frodsham, Wheeler, Fa'asavalu, Dixon.
Hull K R: Briscoe, Fox, Webster, Welham, Cockayne, I'Anson, Dobson, Fozzard, Fitzhenry, Aizue, Walker, Galea, Murrell.
Replacements: Fisher, Newton, Netherton, Lovegrove.
Referee: I Smith (Oldham)
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