Hull KR took the Derby Day spoils in a fiery encounter against the Black & Whites in West Hull, winning 24-10 on Saturday.
The visitors ran into an 18-0 lead in the opening quarter of the contest, but Hull showed resilience to stem the Robins flow – two quickfire scores from Lewis Martin and Logan Moy got Hull back in the contest in the final half hour.
But the visitors had enough to hold on and give FC to their third derby defeat in 2024.
Team News
Grix made three changes to the side that fell just short in Salford last Sunday.
Jack Charles returned to the lineup, in place of Ben Reynolds, whose loan spell with the club came to an end earlier in the week.
Morgan Smith also started at hooker, replacing the injured Danny Houghton.
Will Kirby dropped out of the lineup after making his debut last week. Davy Litten came in in his place.
The Match
The visitors started the game on the front foot. An error under the high ball gifted them a set ten out from Hulls line and they made it count, with Sauaso Sue barging over from close range. Mikey Lewis added the extras from dead in front. Rovers then had a chance to go back to back, but FC survived despite having to defend four straight sets on their own line.
However, the Robins early dominance continued and they had their second inside 15 minutes. Mikey Lewis charged on to a short ball and touched down just left of the uprights. He converted his own try.
KR’s third came two sets later. Matty Storton spun out of a tackle and ran in unopposed. Mikey Lewis extended their advantage. Again, the visitors went close to going back to back, but Lewis’ pass sailed past both Hiku and Burgess into touch.
FC’s first chance of the game came after 20 minutes. Lewis broke down the left edge to get Hull in good field position before Willie Peters’ side knocked the ball behind for a drop out. Moy went closest, being held up a few metres out, but no one could get over the whitewash for the Black and Whites.
Less than five minutes later and FC had another great chance to post points. Trueman’s kick was knocked behind for a dropout by Burgess and on the following set Liam Sutcliffe looked set for Hull’s opening score but was stopped just short.
Hull had another chance late in the half. Trueman kicked early in the set towards Lewis Martin who was free, but Joe Burgess got back to collect the ball.
Three back to back penalties saw the home side have one more chance before the break but it came to nothing. A knock on close to the line saw the attack come to and, and the two sets of players coming together, resulting in Elliott Minchella and Brad Fash both being sent to the sin bin.
Half-Time: Hull FC 0-18 Hull KR
Hull FC started the half with an early chance, thanks to a Robins knock on. A kick behind the defensive line from Jack Charles was collected by Mikey Lewis but just before contact, he lost possession giving FC another chance at the line. Hull couldn’t make it count, but Tiaki Chan went extremely close and was held up over the line.
A pressure relieving penalty helped Rovers down to the Hull line and they looked to have scored, but the ball slipped out in the act of scoring.
The Robins went close again on the 50 minute mark. May put in a low kick but Moy beat multiple chasing runners to reach the ball first.
Joe Burgess was sent to the sin bin a few minutes later for a professional foul, and Hull had a good chance to immediately make their advantage count. Grix’s side passed the ball out to the vacant left edge and a lovely cutout ball found Lewis Martin in the corner. A lengthy video referee check followed but the winger was awarded the try. Liam Sutcliffe added the extras from the sideline.
The video referee was called upon on the next set too. Jordan Lane and Ligi Sao linked up to break the Rovers line and get FC in good position. Logan Moy then slid over on the last and after another lengthy video referee check was awarded the try. Sutcliffe couldn’t convert the second of the back to back tries.
Attack was quickly turned into defence for Grix’s side. Hull KR broke down the middle and shipped the ball out to Hall who knocked on metres from the line.
FC were immediately back on the front foot in a hectic period of the game. The ball was worked out well to Lewis Martin who also knocked on just short of the tryline.
Hull KR had a great opportunity to put the game to bed with ten minutes to go. Three consecutive penalties, one of which resulted in Denive Balmforth being sent to the sin bin, led to three straight sets on the Hull line but Peters’ side couldn’t capitalise on the chances.
The visitors looked to have got over a few moments later, but the video referee denied them the crucial try.
Hull FC had good field position with five minutes to go off the back of a Rovers error. Davy Litten put a kick into the left corner on the fourth tackle but Mikey Lewis was in position to regather the ball.
The video referee was called upon again with two minutes to go as Hull KR looked to have made the most of some confusion at the back and Elliott Minchella was awarded the final try of the game.
Full Time: Hull FC 10-24 Hull KR
The Squads
Hull FC: Logan Moy, Tom Briscoe, Carlos Tuimavave, Liam Sutcliffe, Lewis Martin, Jake Trueman, Jack Charles, Herman Ese’ese, Morgan Smith, Yusuf Aydin, Jordan Lane, Ligi Sao, Will Gardiner.
Interchanges: Brad Fash, Davy Litten, Denive Balmforth, Tiaki Chan.
18th Man: Matty Laidlaw
Hull KR: Niall Evalds, Joe Burgess, Peta Hiku, Oliver Gildart, Ryan Hall, Tyrone May, Mikey Lewis, Sauaso Sue, Matt Parcell, Dean Hadley, Matty Storton, Kelepi Tanginoa, Elliott Minchella.
Interchanges: Tom Opacic, Jez Litten, Jai Whitbread, Jack Brown.
18th Man: Jack Broadbent
The Scorers
Hull FC Tries: Martin (55), Moy (58)
Hull FC Conversions: Sutcliffe (56)
Hull KR Tries: Sue (3), Lewis (12), Storton (17), Minchella (78)
Hull KR Conversions: Lewis (4, 13, 18, 79)
Rowe Freight Man of the Match: Herman Ese’ese
Attendance, sponsored by Garbutts: 15,392
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