Hull FC (0) 4
Tries: T Briscoe
Hull KR (12) 21
Tries: Fox, Fisher, Welham
Goals: Dobson 4
Drop-goal: Murrell

Reliable scrum-half Michael Dobson landed all his four attempts at goal

Hull KR shocked their local rivals as Justin Morgan's men enjoyed a clinical elimination play-off derby victory over Hull FC at the KC Stadium.

Tries from Peter Fox and Ben Fisher put Rovers on their way to a fourth win in five visits to this ground as they opened up a 12-0 lead at the break.

Tom Briscoe responded for Hull, but the third of Michael Dobson's four kicks stretched Rovers' lead to 14-4.

Kris Welham's try and Scott Murrell's drop-goal were then icing on the cake.

Hull FC argued they could have been playing against 12 men when Fox stopped Briscoe playing the ball following a lightning break down the middle with 10 minutes left.

But the home side, who had held fourth for most of the season before eventually having to settle for finishing just a place above Rovers in sixth, were well beaten in the end.

The Black and Whites had beaten Rovers three times this season, first in Richard Horne's testimonial in January before getting the better of two tight Super League encounters, an 18-14 win at Craven Park on Good Friday followed by a 20-16 victory at the KC Stadium in July.

But, since becoming a Super League club in 2007, prior to this season's two narrow defeats, Rovers had won on their last three visits to the KC. And they once again came up with the goods when it mattered most.

It was the most high-profile meeting between the two great rivals since Rovers beat the Black and Whites 10-5 in the 1980 Challenge Cup final. But Morgan's men simply handled all the hype the better with arguably their most clinical performance of the season.

Hull coach Richard Agar's plans were in tatters as early as the sixth minute when, having resisted the temptation to recall regular full-back Jordan Tansey after suspension, by keeping faith with Craig Hall, he was cruelly rewarded.

Hall was forced to limp off, replaced by Danny Washbrook, and the home side's chaotic start worsened four minutes later when Rovers scored the first try.

Murrell's pinpoint chip to the right corner caught Briscoe napping, allowing Fox to nip in and poach a 14th try of the season.

Dobson, the Super League Dream Team's scrum-half of the season, booted the conversion from the touchline, and then two of his kicks, one that forced Horne to needlessly shovel the ball out of play and another that brought about a drop-out, kept his side in the ascendancy.

Horne, slotting in at full-back in place of Hall, was having a torrid time of it and, when Murrell slammed him into the ground with a thunderous tackle, it illustrated the difference in intensity between the two sides.

At that stage the gulf was not reflected on the scoreboard, but that was soon rectified.

Hooker Fisher, one of four survivors of the Rovers side that won promotion to the Super League four years ago, cut through Hull's defence with a snappy run and, after trading passes with Shaun Briscoe, was able to throw himself over the line, Dobson again converting.

Hull were not without their chances, and tackles from Shaun Briscoe denied Lee Radford and Sean Long on the line, while Fox and Ben Cockayne did brilliantly to keep Jordan Turner out on the stroke of the hooter.

With conditions worsening after a heavy shower after the break, Hull were back in it when a slip from Rovers' Matt Cook proved costly, Briscoe gathering and racing to the corner.

But the outstanding defence of Murrell, with two crunching shots on Reece Lyne and Craig Fitzgibbon, kept Hull penned back and unable to build on the score.

And it was the boot of Dobson that added the next points as he split the posts after Cockayne was caught late by Willie Manu.

That proved to be the end, Welham increasing the home misery when he won a chase with five minutes left, before Murrell's drop-goal merely rubbed Hull's noses in it.

Hull FC coach Richard Agar said:

"I'm disappointed. It was always going to be a tough way for one of us to go out and unfortunately it's us.

"But we've got no complaints. We have to accept our fate, that we were fairly and squarely beaten by a better team on the night.

"They executed their game plan really well and the massive difference was the kicking games of the two teams."

Hull KR coach Justin Morgan said:

"I'm relieved. It's been a massive week with a huge build-up. I've enjoyed it, but it's draining.

"I'm pleased we've won our first game in the play-offs and now we've got some momentum.

"We came here knowing that there was a little bit more pressure involved with it being a play-off game and there was no bigger game for us than playing against Hull FC.

"We defended exceptionally well for the entire game. I'm really happy with how we defended. That's what won us the game."

Hull: Hall, Lyne, Turner, Berrigan, T. Briscoe, Horne, Long, Radford, Houghton, O'Meley, Manu, Tickle, Fitzgibbon.
Replacements: Washbrook, Lauaki, Cusack, Moa.

Hull KR: Briscoe, Fox, Cockayne, Welham, Colbon, Murrell, Dobson, Vella, Fisher, Clinton, Newton, Galea, Netherton.
Replacements: Lovegrove, Wheeldon, Cook, Hodgson.

Referee: Phil Bentham (Warrington).

Attendance: 17,699.

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