Rovers edge rip-roaring derby

Justin Morgan's men have now won six of the nine meetings between the two since their return to the top flight in 2007 and this thrilling win provided further evidence they could be equipped to match Morgan's prediction that they are capable of winning the competition this season.

Their success, in front of a raucous crowd of 22,337, was built on an outstanding individual display from their scrum-half Michael Dobson, a man whose signature they captured ahead of Hull last May.

Hull got off to the worst possible start with Danny Tickle's kick-off flying out on the full and their visitors made them pay when Dobson punted a high ball in the air and Jake Webster rose above a flailing Kirk Yeaman to gather the ball and plant it over the line.

Dobson, the form scrum-half in the competition, added the goal but was guilty of squandering the chance of a further score minutes later when he fumbled the ball near the line.

Hull gradually worked their way back into the game and Tickle had a try ruled out by the video referee for being held up as he crossed the whitewash. But they did open their account on the 20-minute mark through Tom Briscoe's fourth score of the season. Craig Hall attacked Rovers' right-hand defence and fed Yeaman, who kicked ahead, and, Briscoe was able to nip in and score although Tickle did miss the conversion.

Rovers extended their lead with 26 minutes gone, with Paul Cooke scoring his first try against his former employers with a smart show-and-go move close to the line, allowing Dobson to covert from out wide.

After threatening on a number of occasions, Hull KR claimed a deserved touchdown five minutes after the break as Hull's defence crumbled at the feet of a raging Ben Galea and, after he was halted, Peter Fox simply picked one of a number of gaps in which to score his eighth try of the season.

Hull hit back with a fine solo effort from Shaun Berrigan out of the dummy-half with 25 minutes to go. And the home side took full advantage when they reduced the deficit further 15 minutes from the end when Mark Calderwood kicked ahead for Richard Whiting - back from a year out with a broken leg - to slide in and score, although Tickle again failed to convert.

That made for a frantic finale, with both sides producing a number of errors at crucial times, but Rovers held on.