Moving back to the top of Super League, beating your closest rivals to do so and condemning them to a fight against relegation in the process? There cannot have been many better nights in recent history to be a Hull FC fan.
The bragging rights in recent years have been solely reserved for those of a black-and-white persuasion in the city with this being Hull’s fifth derby victory in succession, and it was arguably the most comprehensive and convincing of the bunch.
Lee Radford had made the calculated gamble to go with a lighter interchange bench before the 229th meeting of Hull’s two rugby league behemoths, and it was obvious by the 25-minute mark that his selection had paid off. The forwards Radford picked were more than capable of getting on top of their Hull KR counterparts, with the guile from Hull’s backs providing the perfect support to end their recent drop-off in form.
Defeats to Huddersfield and Leeds had led some to question Hull’s title credentials in recent weeks, but they chose an ideal evening to answer those critics here as Radford’s side continued their dominance of one of rugby league’s biggest derbies.
“With us losing our last two games we needed to find some form and I thought we did that tremendously well,” Radford said. “The performance was outstanding, we were clinical throughout and with it being a derby it makes it extra special.”
Yet for Hull KR, the story feels a very different one to that of 12 months ago despite their fate remaining the same. Last year they were far too good for the Qualifiers, winning seven from seven to preserve their Super League status. But with their influential captain, Terry Campese, again injured and no replacement brought in to cover his loss this year, Rovers are undoubtedly in the mix to avoid relegation to the Championship when the Qualifiers get under way.
“I am really confident we will get the job done,” said the Hull KR coach, James Webster, when asked about his side’s survival fight. “We will go into the last eight weeks of the season hell-bent on winning every game. Instead of being the hunted, you want to be the one doing the hunting.”
Had KR taken one of their early chances here the outcome may have been different, but as soon as Hull took control of the contest there only ever looked like one winner.
They raced into an 18-0 lead courtesy of tries from Liam Watts, Danny Houghton and Mark Minichiello and the outstanding Marc Sneyd had a hand in all three and converted them. Sneyd, the man tipped by some to be England’s scrum-half for this year’s Four Nations, caused a minor panic among Hull fans when he headed down the tunnel for treatment just before half-time. But he returned at the start of the second half to guide Hull to victory.
FC had overturned a 20-0 deficit to win 22-20 at Hull KR earlier in the year but there would be no grand comeback here. Minichiello’s second, followed by the first of two well-taken efforts from Steve Michaels, increased Hull’s lead to 30 before Adam Walker ensured the Robins avoided the ignominy of being nilled.
The visitors at least had the final say when Iain Thornley touched down after Michaels’ second, but their focus now turns to a battle against relegation in the second half of the season – made all the more painful by the fact they will be watching their cross-city rivals go on a hunt for the treble after an emphatic return to form.
Hull FC Shaul; Michaels, Fonua, Yeaman, Talanoa; Abdull, Sneyd; Taylor, Houghton, Watts, Minichiello, Manu, Ellis. Interchange Pryce, Thompson, Bowden, Washbrook.
Tries Watts, Houghton, Minichiello 2, Michaels 2. Goals Sneyd 6.
Hull KR Cockayne; Sio, Minns, Thornley, Mantellato; Blair, Kelly; Allgood, Lunt, Tilse, Greenwood, Clarkson, Donaldson. Interchange Walker, Mulhern, Lawler, Marsh.
Tries Walker, Thornley. Goals Mantellato 2.
Referee B Thaler. Attendance 17,481.
