Robins rule in Hull derby
Hull KR emphatically secured their Super League status with a thumping 42-6 derby victory over Hull FC at the KC Stadium.
Last Updated: 03/09/07 11:27am
Hull KR emphatically secured their Super League status with a thumping 42-6 derby victory over Hull FC at the KC Stadium.
Salford's defeat on Friday meant that just one victory from their final three games would keep The Robins up while relegating the Reds.
Justin Morgan's men made sure they achieved their aim in the first match - and what better way than with a dominant derby victory over arch city rivals Hull FC in their own backyard.
Rovers ran in eight tries in all, with two each from Rhys Lovegrove and Luke Dyer, along with scores from James Webster, Jason Netherton, Stanley Gene and Mark Lennon.
Together with five successful kicks, Paul Cooke was the inspiration for Rovers' impressive victory, adding insult to injury after he controversially moved from Hull across the city to Craven Park back in April.
Fast start
Morgan's men flew out of the blocks and took the lead after 13 minutes with Cooke's kick into the corner eventually touched down by another ex-Hull player Netherton.
Dyer then raced clear to score the first of his double after 28 minutes, with his second coming just before half time when he intercepted and raced the length of the field for a 16-0 lead at the interval.
That advantage was stretched to 22 points when Cooke again kicked into the corner for Lennon to sneak in and touch down for the try that effectively sealed the game.
The home side finally got on the scoreboard after 57 minutes when Danny Washbrook surged over the line, but it was only ever going to be a consolation.
Lovegrove shrugged off Shaun Briscoe's challenge to score and captain Webster produced a fine solo try before Gene got his name on the scoresheet with the seventh try.
Cooke looped a pass for Lovegrove to get his second and Hull KR's eighth try on 77 minutes and the celebrations from the away fans really got underway.
It was a sweet victory for Morgan and his men, sending their fans back to East Hull after securing their Super League status on their fiercest rivals' home turf.
Peter Sharp's Black and Whites also suffered a blow to their play-off hopes with the result, while the manner of the defeat will not please the coach.
