Hull KR 11 Hull 10: Webster holds nerve to clinch Rovers' derby win

James Webster's drop goal three minutes from time saw Rovers defeat the elements to win a dramatic first Hull derby this season.

Playing into the gale and sleet in the second at Craven Park, Rovers got within range thanks to Shaun Briscoe's kick return. Webster, the little Australian general who has come up with so many match-winning moments for the club, just managed to scrape his kick over the bar, but it was enough to justify Rovers' favouritism with the bookies in this local battle for the first time in 27 years.

"He took it upon himself and made great play in difficult conditions," said his coach Justin Morgan. "What I saw from my team out there in the second half was something special."

Rovers had built up a 10-point lead, six of them in the first half with the wind on their backs. Two 40/20 kicks and a sin-binning for Hull's Danny Washbrook should have yielded a better tally, but their only try came when Paul Cooke charged down Shaun Berrigan's kick and Jake Webster picked up to score.

Cooke, playing his first game of the season after serving his suspension for contriving his transfer from Hull to Rovers, combined with Jake Webster to send Daniel Fitzhenry over in the second half, but Hull came back with a late effort.

Berrigan's short pass sent Danny Tickle in but Tickle, who had already hit the post with a simple penalty, astonishingly did the same again. They were squandered points which predictably came back to haunt Hull.

"We had a chance, we should have nailed it and he'd be the first to say that," said Tickle's coach Peter Sharp. Hull had drawn level when Kirk Yeaman scored from Adam Dyke's pass with Tickle this time avoiding the uprights, but it was Rovers who kept their nerve.

It puts them four points ahead of Hull in a city where these things matter a great deal and Hull's injury problems continued with Matt Sing's broken hand. Hull have won just two games this season but Sharp said: "We're showing a steady improvement in our resolve."

Hull KR: Briscoe, Steel, Walker, Jake Webster, Fitzhenry, Cooke, James Webster, Vella, Fisher, Mills, Newton, Galea, Murrell. Substitutes used: Crossman, Metherton, Gene, Aizue.

Hull: Tony, Sing, Yeaman, Byrne, Raynor, Belligan, Dykes, King, Lee, Cusack, Radford, Tickle, Washbrook. Substitutes used: G Horne, Wheeldon, Houghton, Fellous.

Referee: A Klein (Keighley)