Robins hold off Airlie Birds

Hull KR enjoyed a very Good Friday as they held off a ferocious comeback bid from Hull to win a thrilling derby clash 18-14 at the KC Stadium.

The Robins made it back-to-back victories against their city rivals despite both teams scoring three tries apiece.

In the end the difference between the two was the form of their kickers - Michael Dobson landing three from three attempts for the visitors.

Danny Tickle was only able to slot over one of his efforts, though, as the Black and Whites slumped to a fourth straight loss in all competitions.

Slump

Having started the season in fine form Richard Agar's side have struggled of late, including suffering a shock cup exit at the hands of Salford.

They were never ahead against Rovers, trailing 18-4 at one stage in the second half before attempting to launch a late rally.

Shaun Berrigan and Richard Whiting both crossed to close the gap but despite an intense spell of pressure, the hosts were unable to breach their opponents' defensive line for a fourth time.

The Robins were relieved when former Hull player Shaun Briscoe knocked a loose ball into touch to end a game they had come so close to throwing away.

It had taken them just two minutes to break the deadlock, Jake Webster rising above Kirk Yeaman to grab Dobson's superb crossfield bomb.

The centre was only denied a second score soon after when he was dragged down on his way to the line having scooped up a loose ball.

At the other end Tickle was held up just short before Hull did get over through Tom Briscoe, the winger finishing off a flowing move on the left.

Responded

However, Rovers responded in fine style to conceding against the run of play, Paul Cooke silencing the home boo-boys with his first try of the season that Dobson converted.

Within five minutes of the second half starting they had crossed again, Peter Fox darting over from dummy half following a superb break from Ben Galea.

As if a 14-point deficit wasn't bad enough, Hull were dealt a further blow when youngster Briscoe was carried off with an ankle injury sustained stopping Galea.

But Berrigan's burst out of dummy half gave their fans renewed hope and when some neat footwork by Mark Calderwood, who hacked on Richard Horne's grubber, allowed Whiting to mark his first appearance in a year with a try, the Robins were rocking.

Justin Morgan's tired troops managed to hold on, though, to seal a sixth success in the nine meetings since their return to the top flight in 2007.