The Black & Whites put in a brave Good Friday display despite being down to twelve men for the majority of the contest, but they could prevent a Robins victory at the MKM Stadium.
John Cartwright’s side staged a brilliant second-half comeback after being 16-4 down at the break to get within two points of the visitors, but it wasn’t enough as the Robins pulled away in the final stages.
Team News
John Cartwright made just one change to the side that faced Warrington last weekend.
Denive Balmforth returned from injury and replaced Logan Moy on the bench.
Matty Laidlaw was 18th Man for this huge Good Friday derby in front of a sold-out crowd.
The Match
KR had an early opportunity after a repeat set call. Lewis kicked through for himself but slipped when chasing it and Litten scooped up to get Hull out of danger. A penalty then relieved the early pressure.
Rovers went close again a few minutes later, but Minchella knocked on a few metres short of the line. The visitors did score first though, with Mikey Lewis finding Gildart down the left edge for the opening score. Mourgue dragged the conversion in front of the posts.
Cust broke from inside his own half with fifteen minutes on the clock to put FC in great field position. The Black and Whites had three sets on the line, with Briscoe being held up just short twice but not finding a way over the line. Cade Cust was then sent off for the Black and Whites for a high shot.
Willie Peters side had the next chance and they made the extra man count. The ball was shipped through the hands to Burgess before he found Hiku for the try. Mikey Lewis added the extras.
A knock on from the visitors handed Hull a chance to hit straight back. A teasing grubber from Sezer looked to be too heavy for the chasing pack but Ashworth came out of nowhere to touch down for the try. Pryce dragged the conversion wide. FC followed the try up with three repeat sets, but couldn’t find a route to the line.
KR then raced down field and had an opportunity to extend their lead. Rovers had the numbers down the right edge but a great cover tackle from Lewis Martin forced Davies into touch with just under ten minutes to go in the half. FC then quickly got down the other end of the field and went close with Ashworth again but couldn’t score.
Hull KR extended their lead with two minutes to go in the half. Arthur Mourgue wrongfooted the defenced and dived over from close range. He converted his own try.
Half-Time: Hull FC 4-16 Hull KR
Peters’ side had an early chance to post points off the back of a penalty. Tanginoa and Mourgue went close but the Black and Whites defence stood strong. An error saw another Robins chance go begging five minutes into the half.
FC had a set deep in Hull KR’s half shortly after following a penalty for a ball steal. The ball was worked well through the hands down the right wing and Tom Briscoe beat the defender to the line to score the first try of the half. Pryce couldn’t convert. FC nearly went back to back, with the ball worked out to the left on the last, but the Robins defence scrambled well.
Mikey Lewis was hit after the ball was gone, giving KR a good opportunity to respond. However, a penalty against the Robins when it began to look dangerous saw FC survive and were helped by another illegal ball steal from the visitors to get up field. Hull once again shipped the ball out to the right, but only as far as Rapana this time who side stepped back inside for another try. Pryce’s conversion was successful. A huge break from Will Pryce put FC in position to score again and hit the front but Rapana was stopped just short.
Against the run of play, KR broke down the left wing to get in good field position before a brand of hot potato was finished off by Joe Batchelor next to the uprights. Arthur Mourgue added the extras. The Robins went back to back, with Waerea-Hargreaves capitalising on an error to score. Mourgue added the extras.
Tom Briscoe chipped the ball over the top with five minutes to go in a late chance for Hull, but Mourgue was first to the ball.
KR had the final chance of the game, but Gildart was bundled into touch.
Full Time: Hull FC 14-28 Hull KR
The Squads and Scorers
Hull FC: Will Pryce, Tom Briscoe, Jordan Rapana, Davy Litten, Lewis Martin, Cade Cust, Aidan Sezer, Herman Ese’ese, Amir Bourouh, Liam Knight, Zak Hardaker, Ed Chamberlain, John Asiata.
Hull FC Interchanges: Yusuf Aydin, Jack Ashworth, Denive Balmforth, Sam Eseh.
Hull FC 18th Man: Matty Laidlaw.
Hull FC Tries: Ashworth (23), Briscoe (49), Rapana (58)
Hull FC Goals: Pryce (59)
Hull KR: Arthur Mourgue, Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess, Mikey Lewis, Tyrone May, Sauaso Sue, Jez Litten, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Dean Hadley, James Batchelor, Elliot Minchella.
Hull KR Interchanges: Sam Luckley, Jai Whitbread, Jack Broadbent, Kelepi Tanginoa.
Hull KR 18th Man: Jack Brown.
Hull KR Tries: Gildart (8), Hiku (19), Mourgue (37), Batchelor (65), Waerea-Hargreaves (67)
Hull KR Goals: Lewis (20), Mourgue (38, 66, 68)
Attendance, sponsored by Garbutts: 21,018
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