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Super League Throwbacks: Hull FC vs London Broncos and Leeds vs Hull KR

Australian Nigel Roy scored the only touchdown to ruin Hull FC's opening night at KCOM Stadium

Ahead of this week's Super League fixtures live on Sky Sports, rugby league researcher Ian Proctor looks at some previous meetings between the sides and picks out some memorable moments.

March 7, 2003: Hull FC 4-10 London Broncos

London Broncos produced one of their finest defensive efforts of the summer era to ruin Hull's opening Super League game at their new home, KCOM Stadium.

It was all a far cry from the Boulevard as Hull attracted a record 12,901 crowd for the fixture but most fans went home bitterly disappointed after Tony Rea's tough-tackling team kept the hosts tryless while claiming their first win of the season, 10-4.

Broncos captain Jim Dymock led his side to the Super League play-offs in 2003
Image: Broncos captain Jim Dymock led his side to the Super League play-offs in 2003

With the magnificent Jim Dymock leading from the front, Broncos had the ideal captain to lead the bid for their first Super League play-off appearance, and, in the first year under a six-team system, they would go on to achieve their aim. Dymock's kick created the only try of the game.

Winger Andrew King made an immediate impression on debut, two days after landing in the country. It was his tackle on Colin Best, as the winger attempted an ambitious pass to Steve Prescott, that enabled Nigel Roy to swoop for the solitary touchdown in the sixth minute.

May 1 2010: Hull FC 8-25 London Broncos

Hull and Harlequins met at Magic Weekend for the only time, in Edinburgh, in 2010 - and it was Brian McDermott's side that emerged as shock winners over Richard Agar's Airlie Birds.

Standing second-bottom on the Super League ladder, the men from the capital were looking to build upon the previous week's amazing win at Wigan and they were full value for their 25-8 victory after taking a 15-0 interval lead.

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Hull and Harlequins met at the Magic Weekend for the only time in 2010

Chad Randall's seventh-minute try put them on their way and a line-up including Rob Purdham, Danny Ward, Luke Gale, Danny Orr, Luke Dorn, Tony Clubb and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook held too many aces for a below-par Hull team.

After Will Sharp, Dorn and Kevin Penny added further tries for 'Quins, Hull's belated response came with tries from Danny Houghton and Tom Briscoe but Craig Hall missed both conversions.

April 1, 2002: Hull FC 30-26 London Broncos

Hull's 30-26 Easter Monday defeat of London Broncos was an unforgettable occasion in the long career of outstanding prop Garreth Carvell.

His first try hat-trick included two touchdowns in the final 13 minutes to enable his side to erase a 14-point deficit and avert their third consecutive defeat.

Garreth Carvell scored an Easter Monday hat-trick for the Black and Whites
Image: Garreth Carvell scored an Easter Monday hat-trick for the Black and Whites

The Broncos trailed 12-0 early on before scoring 26 unanswered points with tries from Steele Retchless, Dominic Peters, Richie Barnett and Dennis Moran - plus a flawless kicking performance from Tony Martin.

But, in the final meeting between the clubs at the Boulevard, Hull got the verdict with tries from Steve Prescott and Carvell in the final four minutes.

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September 1, 2018: Leeds 36-38 Hull KR

The Robins emerged victorious in a 13-try extravaganza at a sun-kissed Headingley after Adam Quinlan gave a superb performance and points-machine Craig Hall contributed 22 points (including a try hat-trick) to their 38-36 Qualifiers victory.

Leeds led 22-14 at the interval after Nathaniel Peteru chose an opportune time to score his first touchdown for the club in the 39th minute. But two tries in four minutes from Hall immediately after half-time, and further touchdowns from Chris Atkin and Junior Vaivai, left Rovers holding on for a richly-deserved victory.

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Leeds vs Hull KR, 2018 throwback

It left both clubs with two wins from their opening three Qualifiers in the quest to safeguard Super League status. With this result, Rovers avenged two close and unlucky Super League defeats against Leeds earlier in the season.

September 18, 2009: Leeds 44-8 Hull KR

Table-topping reigning champions Leeds took the first step towards a third consecutive Grand Final triumph with this comprehensive 44-8 home defeat of Justin Morgan's Rovers side appearing in the play-offs for the first time after finishing fourth in their third season in the top flight.

The visitors were dealt a blow beforehand when ex-Leeds half-back Scott Murrell was ruled out and ex-Rhinos centre Chev Walker suffered a compound fracture of the tibia in an 11th minute tackle by Keith Senior. He left the field on a stretcher to rapturous applause from both sets of fans.

2008 Harry Sunderland Award winner Lee Smith touched down for the Rhinos
Image: 2008 Harry Sunderland Award winner Lee Smith touched down for the Rhinos

Tries from Lee Smith and Brent Webb gave Leeds their 10-8 interval lead and the second half was a procession with mercurial Ali Lauitiiti scoring two tries and Jamie Peacock, Ryan Hall and Senior adding further efforts.

February 2, 2008: Leeds 20-12 Hull KR

Leeds and Hull KR kicked off Super League XIII ahead of the other 10 clubs to enable the Rhinos to host Melbourne Storm in the World Club Challenge at the end of the month.

Just back from warm weather training in Florida, the Leeds players were forced to cope with freezing temperatures and a determined, Robins side that included nine new faces.

Danny McGuire secured victory late on for the Rhinos in 2008
Image: Danny McGuire secured victory late on for the Rhinos in 2008

After Scott Donald had scored the opening try on 14 minutes, two-try Rovers debutant Jake Webster gave the visitors a 12-4 advantage going into the final quarter. But Jamie Peacock inspired the Rhinos, Lee Smith crossed for two vital tries and it was Danny McGuire who sealed the 20-12 victory with his 79th-minute touchdown.

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