Hull KR 20 Hull FC 38 match report: Hull FC win feisty derby to go above the Robins

Three tries in six minutes ensured that Hull, apart from being Wembley-bound, also have their noses in front in the never ending battle for local supremacy.

Nine tries, four sin-binnings and a couple of mass brawls in this Humberside derby. It was decided between the 51st and 57th minutes, when the black and whites imposed themselves after a first half during which they were second best.

There were more sin-binnings than tries in that half, Josh Hodgson and Kirk Yeaman getting their orders after the first altercation on 10 minutes and another Rover, David Hodgson, going on the half-hour for delaying the play-the-ball. Despite that – and the loss of a potential matchwinner in Greg Eden with a knee injury – the Robins were better, with Liam Salter giving them the lead. Jacob Miller equalised, with Michael Dobson's penalty giving Rovers the half-time advantage.

The deluge began when Yeaman was awarded a penalty try after being held back by Travis Burns. Richard Whiting's intercept from Craig Hall and Janie Shaul's finish came straight after. That makes it eight tries in four games for the young full-back, who is set to become one of Wembley's least experienced finalists.

Joe Arundel made up the trio straight from the restart, after which it was "you score, we score" as Rovers failed to put any permanent dent in the lead. Adam Walker and Evarn Tuimavave scored tries, but they were balanced by Whiting and Tom Briscoe. Finally, after the second major flare-up, Burns was sin-binned for initiating the trouble – with five seconds left. The wonder was that it took him so long.

Hull now lead their neighbours on points difference and are surely destined to join them in the play-offs, but they deserve credit for getting their minds back on the job with the Challenge Cup final looming.

Hull KR Eden; Hall, Salter, Gleeson, D Hodgson; Burns, Dobson; Tuimavave, J Hodgson, Walker, Cox, Griffin, Mika. Substitutes used Carlile, Netherton, Beaumont, Hepi.

Hull Shaul; Lineham, Arundel, Yeaman, Briscoe; Holdsworth, Miller; O'Meley, Houghton, Watts, Ellis, Tickle, Westerman. Substitutes used Whiting, Green, Pitts, Heremaia.

Referee: B Thaler