Webster settles Hull derby

James Webster slotted a late drop goal to give Hull Kingston Rovers an 11-10 win over Hull FC in windswept conditions at Craven Park.

Rovers built a 10-0 lead through tries either side of half-time from Jake Webster and Daniel Fitzhenry.

But they appeared to have blown it when Hull FC levelled at 10-10 with a quick-fire try double from Danny Tickle and Kirk Yeaman in the 65th and 71st minutes.

Webster then seized the moment, sealing the 203rd Humber derby for Rovers in the 78th minute with a drop goal that defied the elements and just cleared the crossbar.

Early try

The hosts' opening try in the seventh minute was a touch fortunate as Shaun Berrigan's attempted clearance kick rebounded off Paul Cooke and into the hands of Jake Webster, who returned it all the way down the left flank.

Cooke, who was making his first appearance of the season after serving a suspension stemming from his cross-city switch, slotted the conversion and James Webster consolidated the advantage by earning Rovers successive sets of six with a 40-20 - aided by a stiff breeze at his back - at the end the next possession.

Rovers were in again six minutes later when Scott Burrell crossed the whitewash unopposed, only for the score to be correctly ruled out by referee Ashley Klein due to Chev Walker blocking off Yeaman to smooth Burrell's path to the line.

Klein was soon back in the action, sending Danny Washbrook to the sin-bin for preventing Rovers from taking a quick re-start.

But Hull FC produced some superb tackling to come through that 10-minute stint without damage and, despite Rovers continuing to dominate possession and territory, the visitors made it to the break just 6-0 behind.

Despite having the swirling wind mainly in their face, Rovers made a strong start after the interval, but again could not find a route to the try-line.

Hail storm

The wind - and briefly a vicious hail storm - ensured anything more than a short pass was fraught with danger, the difficulties being underlined in the 50th minute when Tickle slammed a simple penalty attempt against the post.

And it was another mistake by Tickle, coughing up possession attempting an over-ambitious offload, that gifted field position for Rovers' second try in the 58th minute.

Fitzhenry took advantage of a gaping overlap to touch down in the left corner, although Cooke had no chance of adding the touchline conversion due to the howling wind.

Tickle gave his side hope by finally getting the Airlie Birds on the scoreboard with a 65th-minute try, finishing from close range after taking a one-metre pass from Berrigan.

His conversion attempt again struck the upright leaving the visitors' deficit at 10-4 entering the final quarter-of-an-hour.

They needed just six of those minutes to bring the scores level at 10-10 courtesy of Yeaman's converted try.

Superb angle

The Great Britain international centre took a superb angle onto Adam Dyke's pass, running back against the grain of the defence and under the posts untouched.

This time Tickle made no mistake with the conversion from in front of the posts to set up a rousing finale.

With Rovers camped close to the try-line the stage appeared set for Cooke to attempt a drop goal to defeat his former employers.

But instead the stand-off took the ball into contact on the fourth tackle to create the opportunity for Webster to attempt the one-pointer.

It was an inspired option as Webster managed to drive a low effort under the wind but just over the crossbar to give Rovers an 11-10 victory.