Hull provided the actors as the curtain was brought down on the Magic Weekend when Hull KR took on Hull FC in another local derby. The weekends games had seen KR tumble to the bottom of the table but they knew a win would lift them up to tenth. A win for the Black and Whites would edge them back into the top four on points difference over the Castleford Tigers.
It was the walking wounded for Hull FC who brought Kirk Yeaman out of retirement during the week and into the starting line-up and gave a debut to new signing Liam Harris. But KR had a long injury list too, both sides well below full strength.
The atmosphere was electric in the stadium as many supporters stayed for what they hoped would be a rough and tough encounter between two sides desperate for the local bragging rights.
KR opened the scoring in an end to end competition when Kieron Moss was at the end of a right to left passing move to go past the sliding defence and ground in the corner. Ryan Shaw was unable to add the touchline conversion by the Robins had a 4-0 lead after fourteen minutes.
On nineteen the Airlie Birds got a stroke of luck when a Jake Connor kick came back off the right upright, was chested forward by Scott Taylor who then picked up the ball to dive over under the sticks. Connor added the extras to edge his side into the lead.
Four minutes later Jamie Shaul scored under the sticks with a scoot from acting half-back to again ground underneath the uprights. Connor added the extras for 12-4.
From the base of the scrum, Kieron Moss got his second of the evening after an FC attempted intercept. The youngster took a Vaivai pass and skipped past the defence to ground. This time Shaw added the extras from the left touchline to get his side within two points.
Debutant Liam Harris grabbed FC’s third try as he threw the dummy and then stepped out of a couple pof tackles to score from ten metres. Connor kicked the conversion from in front of the sticks for 18-10.
Shaul grabbed his second, crawling over the line after being ankle tapped, to strike a cruel blow just before half time. Connor added the extras and FC took a 24-10 lead into the sheds.
Nick Scruton was sin-binned on fifty-one for a shoulder charge, making the Robins task even more of an uphill struggle in the second half.
On fifty-five Moss completed his hat-trick, spinning out of a Shaul tackle to ground on the line after taking a miss-out pass. Shaw kicked the touchline conversion for 16-24.
Jack Logan was the beneficiary of left to right passing move as he dove over by the corner flag to score on sixty-six to edge Hull FC towards the important win which lifts them into the top four and condemns their arch enemy to prop up the league for the next week. Connor was unable to add the extras, but he went in for his own try two minutes later to further extend the lead. As he added the goal it was 34-16 and all over as a competition.
A seventy third minute try from Tommy Lee narrowed the margin but even with the Shaw conversion the margin was still twelve points. The stands were emptying as the crowds knew the game was over and they were heading for the A1.
This was an important win for an embattled Hull FC side but also a devastating blow for their neighbours from KR. There were more injuries but for the most part the game was played in good sprirt, apart from a set-too in the closing seconds. The Robins now know that they have a massive amount of work to do to avoid the jeopardy of the middle eights whereas FC will be looking forward to cementing their top four spot and going forward to the play-offs.
KR: Quinlan, Shaw (3G), Salter, Vaivai, Moss (3T), Blair, Lee (T), Masoe, Smith, Scruton (SB on 51), Tickle, Clarkson, Donaldson. Subs: Greenwood, Kavamagh, Atkin, Walne.
FC: Shaul (2T), Griffin, Scott, Yeaman, Logan (T), Connor (T, 5G), Harris (T), Taylor (T), Houghton, Green, Minichiello, Manu, Westerman. Subs: Hadley, Paea, Miloudi, Matongo.
Referee:Ben Thaler.
Half-Time: 10-24.
Full-Time: 22-34.
Attendance: 25,438.
