Black and Whites edge derby
Tom Briscoe produced a match-saving tackle as Hull FC beat Hull KR 20-16 at the KC Stadium on Thursday night.
Last Updated: 15/07/10 10:52pm
Hull FC completed a Super League season double over Hull KR on Thursday night when they edged a 20-16 victory over their neighbours at the KC Stadium.
The Black and Whites therefore bounced back from last weekend's defeat against Wakefield but the 210th staging of the Big City Derby proved a close-run thing.
Richard Agar's side made the stronger start with Danny Houghton scoring early on but with Josh Charnley responding, it was only Danny Tickle's boot that proved the difference at half time.
It was Hull KR who started the second half the brighter as Clint Newton scored, but tries from Willie Manu and Shaun Berrigan then appeared to hand the home side the edge.
In the event, Hull FC held on to their fine home record - the best in Super League this season - but only just as, first, Liam Watts touched down again for Rovers before Tom Briscoe's last-gasp tackle denied Peter Fox at the death.
Vella setback
Despite being named in Justin Morgan's 19-man squad, Liam Colbon's long-awaited return failed to materialise and the Robins' fortunes took another dip before kick-off when captain Mick Vella was forced to drop out through injury.
They fared little better in the opening exchanges and the home side went ahead after eight minutes when Sam Latus knocked on trying to deal with a high kick on the Rovers line.
Their first push forward appeared to be going nowhere but they gained a second chance when Willie Manu picked up a ball fumbled by a Hull KR defender.
The second set then ended with Houghton stepping through a wall of Rovers defenders to dive over with Tickle kicking the extras.
Tickle edged the Black and Whites two points further clear with a penalty after 14 minutes and they should have been two tries to the good moments later when Shaun Briscoe and Latus collided whilst attempting to deal with a high kick.
However, with the ball bouncing gently free, the try line beckoning and no other player near him, Mark Calderwood instead found himself a candidate for miss of the season when he knocked on.
To add insult to the home side's injury, a possible 12-0 scoreline became 8-6 when on-loan teenager Charnley sprinted through in the right-hand corner, with Michael Dobson converting.
The visitors could not capitalise on Dobson's 40-20 and instead found themselves defending desperately after 27 minutes - Fox producing a hit-and-a-half to deny Kirk Yeaman.
And Hull FC would have been over for their second just past the half-hour had Epalahame Lauaki chosen not to ignore a two-man overlap and instead go inside.
His blushes were partially spared when play was pulled back for a high-tackle and Tickle put two more points on the board.
The first half ended with Hull laying siege to their opponents' line and despite having two good chances - Tom Briscoe fumbling on the line and Tickle knocking on under the posts attempting to deal with a high bounce - the scoreline remained 10-6 at the interval.
Hull's defence had appeared solid in the opening half but that was far from the case when Newton burst through their line one minute after the re-start to score his fifth try in as many matches.
Dobson could not convert, however, and neither could Rovers make the most of a period during which they generally held the advantage.
Instead, Calderwood bundled Latus into nearside touch and the Black and Whites used that to build their second try. Tickle went close first before Richard Horne's crossfield kick found Manu, who crossed in the far corner.
Big climax
Tickle missed the extras but that appeared to matter rather less in the 64th minute when Hull FC finally put some real breathing space between themselves and their opponents.
The try came about when Calderwood hacked the ball forward from the right wing towards replacement Berrigan, who found himself in acres of space to cross with Tickle this time converting.
Moments later Calderwood - who appeared to pull a hamstring in setting up his side's third try - and Ben Cockayne found themselves sin-binned after starting a bout of fisticuffs that proved highly contagious.
Rovers silenced the home crowd with nine minutes remaining when Watts crossed after Ewan Dowes was penalised for ball stealing. With Dobson converting, the stage was set for the big climax.
The visitors appeared primed to finish the job with five minutes left only for Dobson to throw away the chance with a forward pass.
Then, with Lauaki conceding a penalty after lifting Shaun Briscoe as he attempted to play the ball, Rovers' last-ditch attempt ended with Tom Briscoe's match-saving tackle on Fox.
