HULL FC 20 HULL KR 34
STEPHEN IBBETSON, MKM Stadium, Thursday

HULL KR got their title defence back on track with city rivals Hull FC still a reliable source of joy for them.

After falling twelve points down in a flash, the Robins were otherwise completely dominant as they secured a ninth derby victory in succession.

This edition of the rivalry was without its usual chief protagonist, the suspended Mikey Lewis. Arthur Mourgue and Jack Broadbent played at halfback and fullback respectively in a rejigged spine but it was inspirational hooker Jez Litten who best filled the playmaking void.

While their top-six prospects look rosier again following back-to-back defeats, Hull FC can only wait for another unmemorable season to end after a sixth loss in succession.

Yet they could only have dreamed of a start which put their side 12-0 up after nine minutes.

Aidan Sezer stepped through the line to create the opener, finding Joe Batchelor – making his 200th career appearance – supporting on his shoulder.

Hull KR’s restart was caught out on the full and Jake Arthur’s short kick set up Davy Litten, with Zak Hardaker converting both tries.

Both try-scorers were looking for family bragging rights – Batchelor over brother James and Litten with cousin Jez.

But it was the latter who, after a scrappy middle period of the first half, sparked the Robins’ revival in the ten minutes prior to half-time.

Litten’s penalty tap-and-go put them on the front foot, then his dummy-half pass sent Tom Amone crashing under the posts.

Mourgue then sniped over and added both conversions to level things at the break.

Hull FC had been living on the edge for some time, with Harvey Barron intercepting a potential Mourgue try assist to Joe Burgess earlier in the half, and Arthur hauling down impact sub Karl Lawton in between the two Rovers tries.

And they had another escape less than two minutes into the second half as Burgess dropped an Oliver Gildart pass in the corner.

Instead they regained the lead straight afterwards, a Lawton high tackle on Lennon Clark allowing Hardaker a long-range penalty goal – although it lasted just three minutes.

That was almost entirely down to Broadbent, who superbly leapt above opposing fullback Logan Moy to claim a Litten kick and put Hull KR ahead for the first time.

Mourgue’s third goal made it a four-point advantage, and he took a chance to make that six with a 55th-minute penalty conceded by Amir Bourouh for deliberately passing into a marker.

Hull FC were then truly their worst enemies as an Arthur pass in attack was intercepted by Burgess who thrillingly dashed the length of the pitch, riding a Moy challenge along the way.

Mourgue added the conversion then a second penalty goal shortly afterwards, following a Bourouh ball steal, made it game over at a three-score lead.

Arthur’s try off a neat Hardaker kick, five minutes from time and converted by the centre, came too late for home supporters, many of whom were long gone.

Instead it was Hull KR fans once again celebrating into the night, sent out on a high by a Jordan Dezaria crash-over and Mourgue’s seventh goal from seven.

GAMESTAR: Jez Litten inspired Hull KR’s turnaround.

GAMEBREAKER: Once Jack Broadbent put the Robins into the lead, they never looked like relinquishing it.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Joe Burgess’ sprint the length of the field towards the ecstatic Hull KR fans.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Jez Litten (Hull KR)
2 pts Karl Lawton (Hull KR)
1 pt Tom Amone (Hull KR)

MATCHFACTS

HULL FC
24 Logan Moy
2 Harvey Barron
4 Zak Hardaker
3 Davy Litten
19 Tom Briscoe
6 Jake Arthur
7 Aidan Sezer
26 Hugo Salabio
14 Cade Cust
10 Harvie Hill
11 Joe Batchelor
39 Ethan O’Neill
15 James Bell
Subs (all used)
8 Herman Ese’ese
9 Amir Bourouh
36 Lennon Clark
40 Max Wood
18th man (not used)
29 Will Hutchinson
Also in 21-man squad
5 Lewis Martin
25 Matty Laidlaw
32 Lloyd Kemp

Tries: Batchelor (5), Litten (8), Arthur (75)
Goals: Hardaker 4/4

HULL KR
14 Jack Broadbent
2 Tom Davies
3 Peta Hiku
4 Oliver Gildart
5 Joe Burgess
1 Arthur Mourgue
7 Tyrone May
8 Sauaso Sue
9 Jez Litten
11 Dean Hadley
16 Jai Whitbread
12 James Batchelor
13 Elliot Minchella
Subs (all used)
10 Tom Amone
15 Sam Luckley
19 Karl Lawton
20 Jordan Dezaria
18th man (not used)
17 Rhyse Martin
Also in 21-man squad
22 Bill Leyland
24 Jack Charles
34 Ryan Hampshire

Tries: Amone (31), Mourgue (39), Broadbent (47), Burgess (62), Dezaria (77)
Goals: Mourgue 7/7

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 12-6, 12-12; 14-12, 14-18, 14-20, 14-26, 14-28, 20-28, 20-34

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Hull FC: Joe Batchelor; Hull KR: Jez Litten

Penalty count: 4-6
Half-time: 12-12
Referee: Chris Kendall
Attendance: 18,809