Hull forge clear of neighbours

Hull KR 18 Hull 32

The Hull owner, Adam Pearson, declared last week that he was prepared to spend big to put the club back where he thinks it belongs. That points to an interesting winter at the KC Stadium, but in this match it was some of their short-term recruits who put their hands up as Hull put five Super League points between themselves and their neighbours.

Jamie Foster, Ryan McGoldrick and Liam Watts all made telling contributions as Hull recorded their second victory this season over the Robins.

As likely rivals for a play-off place as well as historic enemies, one of these teams needed to pull out of their lacklustre recent form at Craven Park last night.

It was Hull KR who showed the first signs of doing that, thanks to Foster's first touch of his Hull debut – a kick-off direct into touch. Foster, on loan from St Helens, made up for his error with a try-saving tackle on David Hodgson.

Rovers went ahead through Michael Dobson's offside penalty, but this time Foster's kick-off drew a fumble from Shannon McDonnell. Another new Hull arrival, McGoldrick, scythed through from the resulting scrum for the game's first try.

Hull, who tried and failed to sign the reigning Man of Steel, Rangi Chase, in time to play in this game, were causing early havoc with their offloads. Danny Houghton's break and their ability to keep the ball alive saw Jordan Turner go in for their second try, again improved by Foster.

Hull then lost Turner, with Con Mika placed on report for a suspected high tackle, but further pressure brought them a Foster penalty before half-time and a scoreline that was beginning to reflect Hull's overall superiority.

Rovers' hopes were revived when Richard Horne failed to clear a Dobson kick from behind his own lines, giving James Laithwaite the chance to sneak in for a try. It was a short-lived optimism, because Willie Manu's scrambling run gave Kirk Yeaman a stroll-in three minutes later.

Rovers fought back again with Mickey Paea's try from Dobson's break and when Josh Hodgson got over before the hour it was suddenly anybody's game. McGoldrick's slick pass put Richard Whiting over, however, and this time there was no comeback from the east side of the city as Tom Briscoe supported Foster to score and put it beyond doubt.

Hull KR: McDonnell; Latus, Webster, G Horne, D Hodgson; B Green, Dobson; Paea, Withers, Taylor, Mika, Galea, J Hodgson. Substitutes used: Clinton, O'Hara, Murrell, Laithwaite.

Hull: McGoldrick; Briscoe, Turner, Yeaman, Foster; R Horne, Heremaia; Watts, Houghton, Lynch, Manu, Westerman, Whiting. Substitutes used: C Green, Pitts, Aspinwall, Lineham.

Referee: R.Silverwood (Mirfield)