Matt Gafa and Rikki Sheriffe each grabbed two tries as Harlequins Rugby League moved back into the engage Super League play-off places with a hard-fought 35-16 victory over visitors Hull Kingston Rovers.

Gafa struck in each half to take his season tally to eight as the London club produced a dominant first-half display and then withstood a second-half Hull fightback.

The visitors made the brighter opening and it was only a combination of poor decision-making and strong home defence that kept the scoresheet blank.

First burly stand-off Paul Cooke broke tackles only to see Ben Galea's grubber kick elude everybody, then moments later Ben Fisher knocked on with the line at his mercy.

Midway through the half though Quins turned the game on its head with two tries in the space of three minutes.

The first came when Danny Orr's chip allowed Jon Wells to leap highest and plunge over the line, and seconds later skipper Rob Purdham stole in after Sheriffe had made an electrifying 50-metre run.

With Henry Paul converting one and adding a penalty Harlequins suddenly had a handy advantage and the confidence seemed to drain from the shell-shocked visitors.

The Londoners then made their dominance tell when Orr made a surging break and Gafa was on hand to scamper over, Paul adding the extras.

Just as in the opening half Hull KR made a strong start to the second period, and were rewarded when Ben Cockayne profited from a Cooke up-and-under to crash over.

As the conditions deteriorated, Quins stretched their lead when first Paul struck a drop-goal, then Gafa claimed his second try after good work by Purdham.

But the visitors refused to go quietly and quick tries from Cockayne and Kirk Netherton produced a frantic finale.

But with the minutes ticking away, and with Hull KR desperate for possession, Sheriffe found space out wide to twice dart in to seal victory.