It may not have been pretty, but try telling any Hull FC supporter that matters. In this part of the world, there is only thing that matters: beating the old enemy and this result could have a huge impact on both clubs’ Super League playoff aspirations.
The 243rd Hull derby will not be recalled as a classic. But given how these two sides started the day four points apart, it will be remembered as significant. When Hull FC were beaten 40-0 by Hull Kingston Rovers on Good Friday, the Black and Whites looked more likely to be in a battle for survival rather than the playoffs, and Rovers seemed certainties to make the top six. But now, after a run of six wins in nine games for Tony Smith’s side, the latest of which was this scrappy derby triumph at the home of their greatest rivals, they are separated by just two points. It was far from Hull’s best performance, but it could be their most important.
“We’re pleased but we’re not going to go over the top with this either,” Smith said. “I’m over the moon for the players, we’ve done it tough and to come out on the good side of a result here is a hard thing to do.”
Hull trailed 6-0 at half-time courtesy of Jack Walker’s early score for Rovers. That was the only piece of quality in the first half though, with both sides guilty of wasting opportunities to strike with some poor handling. However, it was the visitors who emerged from the half-time break with the greater purpose. Within five minutes of the restart they were level as Adam Swift scored a magnificent solo try, giving Jake Clifford a simple conversion to make it 6-6.
And Rovers, in truth, never really got going throughout that second half. “We weren’t comfortable at all in attack,” their coach, Willie Peters, said. “Credit to FC, they came back and got the result but we need to work on our attack. The players that take to the field have got a job to do and we didn’t do that job today.” Rovers’ cause was not helped heading into the final quarter when their captain, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle on Clifford.
Rhyse Martin’s penalty with eight minutes remaining helped Leeds close on Salford in the last playoff spot, the decisive points in a 16-14 victory over the Red Devils at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Tries from Cameron Smith and Ash Handley had given Leeds a 12-4 half-time lead after Tim Lafai touched down for the hosts to open the scoring. Lafai’s second shortly after the break closed the gap before Ken Sio gave them a 14-12 lead. Martin then levelled with a penalty before putting the ball over again for the win.
The Rhinos are now seventh, two points off Salford in sixth and with a significant points difference advantage. Guardian sport
FC duly capitalised on the man advantage when Brad Dwyer’s pass sent Ligi Sao across to put Hull ahead for the first time. Kenny-Dowall returned and Rovers pressed for the try that would have forced extra time but you always felt the momentum was with the visitors. That was then underlined with five minutes to go when, after another Rovers error in possession, the ball was worked wide for Swift to score his second and put the outcome beyond doubt.
