Hull FC 16-20 Hull KR: Robins claim dramatic Super League derby victory
Last Updated: 28/07/18 2:19pm
Craig Hall scored twice on his second debut as Hull FC suffered a rare derby defeat to Hull KR, losing 20-16 at the KCOM Stadium.
After seven successive wins over their city rivals, it went wrong early on for the Black and Whites in the Betfred Super League clash as Rovers surged 16-0 ahead by half-time thanks to on-loan Leigh man Hall's double and a further try from Danny Tickle.
Hull hauled themselves level, powered by tries from Jordan Abdull, Josh Griffin and Mark Minichiello, but a penalty from Tickle on the hour nudged the visitors ahead once more.
Hull's Marc Sneyd hit the post from a penalty as he looked to bring the sides level again, before at the other end Tickle proved more accurate, adding another two points with four minutes remaining.
It took Hall just 104 seconds to announce his return to the fixture. Four years after leaving the Robins, he accepted Maurice Blair's cut-out pass to dive in at the corner.
Tickle, another of the seven players to have featured for both clubs, missed a difficult touchline conversion.
But the stormy weather rumbling and flashing above and around the KCOM Stadium soon took its toll on the game's quality.
Both sides struggled to retain possession with heavy rain consistently falling and it was Fetuli Talanoa's fumble that led to Hall's second try after 24 minutes.
Rovers still had nearly 100 metres to go but one kick ahead by Ben Crooks, another Leigh loanee, and two by Hall saw the winger touch down fractionally before the ball ran out of play. Tickle converted to make it 10-0.
The Black and Whites' torment continued three minutes before the interval as Tickle barged over for his 100th Super League try.
The veteran second-rower missed a second conversion so when Rovers were awarded a penalty on the stroke of half-time, Hall stepped up from halfway to make it 16-0 at the break.
FC needed a quick response in the second half and they did not mind that ex-Robin Abdull's 44th-minute score was as scrappy as they come.
Blair was suitably incensed by the officials' decision to get a sin-binning for dissent from referee Gareth Hewer.
He could also be in further trouble for an apparent gesture towards the home fans as he left the pitch.
With Blair still on the sidelines, Hull scored another try from centre Josh Griffin, converted by Marc Sneyd. Rovers were fortunate not to lose Nick Scruton as well for a borderline hit on Scott Taylor.
FC's pressure was relentless and, after another penalty against Scruton, Minichiello crawled over the try line after would-be tacklers melted away.
Sneyd's conversion tied the scores but only momentarily as Tickle's penalty on the hour nosed Rovers back into the lead at 18-16.
Sneyd hit a post with his penalty chance before Tickle sealed Hull's fate.
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