The Black & Whites claimed the Hull Derby bragging rights with a nail-biting 23-22 victory in one of the most memorable clashes between the sides of the Betfred Super League era.
The scoreline seesawed throughout the game, with Hull’s tries coming from Adam Swift, Carlos Tuimavave, and a brace from Bureta Faraimo, helped incredibly by three assists from Jake Connor on his return to action.
However, the drama would continue in the match until the death; with Hull leading by one-point thanks to a Marc Sneyd drop-goal, it was Jordan Lane who sealed the win with an incredible charge down on a drop-goal from the Robins.
Team News
The Black & Whites were handed a huge boost going into the match with the return of key players, including Jake Connor and Andre Savelio, with Jamie Shaul making his first appearance in over a year after recovering from an ACL injury.
The Match
The Black & White made a fast start in the game, and opened the scoring after just three minutes in the contest. With Rovers lacking in defenders over on Hull’s left edge, FC quickly sent the ball to Adam Swift, who had the acrobatic ability to touch down in the corner. Sneyd missed the goal.
Hull thought they had a second ten minutes later courtesy of Cameron Scott, but were denied by the video referee. Sneyd had put a delicate chip into the corner, but Swift fumbled the ball before Scott touched down.
The Robins held the majority of possession for the next 15 minutes, with Hull defending multiple sets on their line, including holding up Rovers over the line twice.
After a failed drop-goal attempt from Rowan Milnes, Hull went down the other end and looked to have got the next score in the game when Carlos Tuimavave finished off a classy move down the right edge, but Ben Thaler denied the try once more.
Instead it would be Hull KR who had the next try, as Milnes chipped through the FC defence and chased his own kick to score. Crooks’ conversion made it a six point lead.
However, a sensational late double from Hull would see them take the lead into the break. First, Bureta Farimo was on the receiving end of a superb Jake Connor assist, patting the ball from a Sneyd cross-field kick over the Rovers defenders into Faraimo’s arms to score with ease.
Then, as Hull had one final chance at the line before the break, a wide ball from josh Reynolds found the hands of Carlos Tuimavave, who dances through the Robins line to score another. Sneyd’s two goals made it a six point lead for FC at the break.
Half-Time: Hull FC 16-10 Hull KR
Despite FC’s late flurry in the opening forty, it was Rovers who got the first try of the second-half early on as Ben Crooks slid through a gap in the FC line to score with ease. He converted his own try to level the scores.
But the end-to-end nature of the contest continued, and it was Hull who soon regained the lead. Sneyd, Reynolds, and Connor, who got his third assist of the afternoon, linked up to give space to Faraimo to go over for his second try!
Hull nudged themselves further ahead with 18 minutes remaining when Marc Sneyd added a penalty goal, before sticking over a drop-goal as the closing stages approached. Hull led by seven.
The drama would continue until the final minutes of the game making it one of the most memorable derbies of recent times – Albert Vete crashed over with five minutes to go, giving the Robins a sniff of a chance. Crooks’ conversion made it just a one point gap with just moments remaining.
The Robins continued to push as a last minute drop-goal attempt was superbly saved by Jordan Lane charged as he charged the ball down and secured victory for the Black & Whites.
Full-Time: Hull FC 23-22 Hull KR
Hull FC: Connor; Swift, Scott, Tuimavave, Faraimo; Reynolds, Sneyd; Sao, Houghton, Fash, Manu, Savelio, Lane.
Interchanges: Brown, Cator, Shaul, Taylor.
Hull KR: Crooks; Keinhorst, Minikin, Kenny-Dowall, Hall; Takairangi, Milnes; Vete, Parcell, King, Linnett, Johnson, Lawler.
Interchanges: Sims, Litten, Storton, Maher.
Scorers:
Hull Tries: Swift (3), Faraimo (35, 50), Tuimavave (38)
Hull Goals: Sneyd (3/5)
Hull Drop-Goals: Sneyd
Hull KR Tires: Keinhorst (13), Milnes (30), Crooks (44), Vete (75)
Hull KR Goals: Crooks (3/4)
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