A Hull derby is always eagerly anticipated and when FC have the opportunity of travelling across the city to dent their arch-rival’s chances of a play-off place, while keeping alive their own, then there is some added spice to the occasion.
Seventh placed KR had the opportunity to lift themselves into the top six, even if only for a few hours, while a win for FC, coupled with victory for the Leeds Rhinos over the Salford Red Devils later in the afternoon, would drop KR down into eighth spot just two league points ahead of their nearest and dearest.
The Robins had been installed as slight favourites with the bookies, the Airlie Birds given a two-point start on the coupon, but it was way too close to call, and it was unlikely to go the way of the 40-0 win for KR in April.
A full house welcomed the sides onto the field into an electric atmosphere.
The home side set the scoreboard moving when Jack Walker took a miracle Mikey Lewis pass to run in and score unopposed from five metres out. Rowan Milnes added the conversion for the best possible start with five minutes on the clock.
The Robins were feeding on the enthusiasm of the noisy home crowd, but the adrenaline started to wane as the game headed towards the twenty-minute mark, the Black and Whites playing themselves into the game and frustrating the Robins.
Both sides started making errors as the half wore on as with defences on top both sides started taking risks to keep the ball alive. KR guarded their six-point lead into the interval, FC pointless in the first half.
On forty-four the visitors were level thanks to a barnstorming run from Adam Swift after he took the ball on his own thirty before wrongfooting Walker to score under the sticks from seventy metres. Jake Clifford added the extras and after a forty-minute point drought the scores were level.
Tex Hoy hobbled off the field on forty-seven, a big loss for the visitors. Milnes missed a simple penalty on fifty-one after a high tackle from Brad Fash, FC riding their luck.
An awful high tackle from Shaun Kenny-Dowall on fifty-seven, deep in the FC half, deprived the Robins of a man for ten minutes as he saw yellow from referee Thaler.
On sixty-four FC hot the front for the first time as Ligi Sao stretched for the line and grounded under the crossbar off a Brad Dwyer pass. Clifford added the conversion as the FC supporters raised the volume another notch.
Matt Parcell had a try ruled out for KR on sixty-eight for a double movement, the tide was turning in the visitors favour as the home side returned to a full complement.
Revenge was sweet for FC on seventy-seven when a long miss-out pass found Adam Swift to cross in the corner for his second of the match to seal the win. Clifford was unable to add the conversion, the visitors with a 16-6 win.
Apart from losing local bragging rights, this was a blow for Hull KR as they continue their fall from grace after a brilliant start to the season, heading further out of the important top six, and a play-off place. FC keep their slender hoped of a top six finish alive and climb within two points of KR on the league ladder. A derby classic for the nerves, if not for the skill on show.
Hull KR: Walker (T), Ryan, Opacic, Kenny-Dowall (SB on 57), Hall, Lewis, Milnes (G), Kennedy, Litten, King, Keinhorst, Linnett, Hadley. Subs: Parcell, Storton, Johnson, Luckley. 18th Man: Aydin.
Hull FC: Hoy, Swift (2T), Scott, Tuimavave, McIntosh, Trueman, Clifford (2G), Taylor, Houghton, Sao (T), Lane, Fash, Cator. Subs: Brown, Dwyer, Gardiner, Satae. 18th Man: Shaul.
Half-Time: 6-0.
Full-Time: 6-16.
Score Progression: 4-0, 6-0 : HT: 6-4, 6-6, (SB), 6-10, 6-12, 6-16 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: KR – Square – FC.
Referee: Ben Thaler.
