There were three motivations for the black and white side of
Hull as they travelled to take on their arch rivals wearing red and white; first
was to deny the Robins the league leaders trophy which would be everything but mathematically
certain should they win; second was to lift themselves above Wakefield Trinity
and into a play-off play place, and third was to ridicule a twenty-six point handicap
start which the bookies had allocated them on the coupon.

A victory for the home side would put them four clear of
Wigan with two games remaining and supporting a massive points difference
advantage meaning that they would be all but mathematically impossible to catch, and meaning that a single point from their remaining two games would give them
the shield.

But Hull FC’s need was seemingly greater, a win would put
them up to sixth, and would mean that their play-off fate was back in their own
hands.

A ferocious first few minutes saw Hull KR squander their
first opportunity of points on four after a second effort in the tackle by Amir
Bourouh, Arthur Mourgue missing the two pointer which looked easier to kick.

The Robins had most of the possession and position and on
seventeen Noah Booth found an overlap to sneak over the line down the left side
on the last tackle. Mourgue was wide with the conversion as the wind blew into
his face.

Despite trailing, Hull FC were definitely up for the game
and they were determined to make life as difficult as possible for their
neighbours.

James Batchelor bounced a kick-through dead on the half hour
mark as he chased the grubber, the dead ball line beating him to the try
scoring opportunity.

On thirty-three Cade Cust spilled possession on the KR ten
metre line into the hands of the tackler Mikey Lewis, the KR talisman pinning
back his ears and sprinting down the centre of the field for a ninety-metre sprint
under the sticks but referee Moore sent the decision to the video official who
ruled a knock-on in the challenge.

From the restart Zak Hardaker should have levelled the
scores but spilled the ball on the line and was unable to recollect and score
under pressure from the KR defence.

Interference at the play the ball from Sezer as the hooter
sounded presented Mourgue with another chance of two points, but he was wide
again with his attempt, his third miss of the afternoon.

As the half time hooter sounded the game was still anyone’s.

A early second half blow for the Airlie Birds came on
forty-four, Yusef Aydin sin-binned for a reckless tackle on Arthur Mourgue.
Within a minute Jez Litten scored against his former employers as he bulldozed
his way over the line. Mourgue finally found his kicking boots for 10-0.

An awful shoulder from Elliott Minchella on Lewis Martin saw
the KR loose forward sin-binned for a hit to the head with mitigation. A chink
of light at the end of the tunnel for FC.

The victory was the Robins on sixty-three, Jack Broadbent
scooting from acting half back, spinning out of a tackle, and going through a gap
left by Cust who was more intent on swinging handbags at Mikey Lewis. Mourgue was
again unable to convert but there was no way back for Hull FC.

The Black & Whites grabbed a lifeline on seventy-one
with a backhanded pass from Jordan Rapana to allow Tom Briscoe to summersault
his way over in the right corner. Hardaker hit the far post with his conversion
attempt, the margin down to ten points.

It was though, just a momentary blip as with five minutes later
Tom Davies had an ocean of space down the right to take a Tyrone May pass and
go over. Mourgue missed his fifth kick of the afternoon, fortunately for him
they didn’t matter.

As the final seconds ebbed away Rapana was sin-binned on
seventy-nine for a late hit.

Hull KR are now so close to the league leaders trophy that
they can smell it, taste it, and almost touch it. The points difference to
Wigan should be enough, even if the unthinkable happens and they lose their
remaining two matches. Hull FC, on the other hand, failed to take advantage of
Wakefield’s slip up against the Tigers and are now most likely to miss out on
the top six, this derby loss ultimately being a costly one after what looks
like a disappointing end to the season.

Hull KR: Mourgue (G 1/6), Davies (T), Hiku, Broadbent (T),
Booth (T), Lewis, May, Whitbread, Litten (T), Warea-Hargreaves, Hadley, Batchelor,
Minchella (SB on 5. Subs: Luckley, Tanginoa, Doro, Leyland. 18^th
Man: Brown. 

Hull FC: Kemp L, Briscoe (T), Rapana (SB on 79), Litten,
Martin, Cust, Sezer, Ashworth, Bourouh, Watts, Hardaker, Lane, Aydin (SB on 44).
Subs: Fash, Gardiner, Kemp C, Laidlaw. 18^th Man: Moy.

Half-Time: 4-0.

Full-Time: 18-4.  

Score Progression: 4-0 : HT: (SB), 8-0, 10-0, (SB), 14-0,
14-4, 18-4, (SB) :FT.

Lead Exchanges: KR.

Referee: Liam Moore.