Hull FC (12) 30
Tries: Hall, Tickle, Wheeldon, Manu, Yeaman
Goals: Tickle 5

Hull FC regained local bragging rights with a thrilling win at Craven Park to leave their rivals in trouble near the foot of the Super League table.

The visitors had led 12-4 early on but Rovers hit back with a superb try from David Tangata-Toa and one from Mark O'Neill to lead 14-12 at the break.

But Hull FC sealed the match with three tries in 12 minutes from Scott Wheeldon, Willie Manu and Kirk Yeaman.

Rovers responded with a Rhys Lovegrove try but Hull FC held on for victory.

The Robins held the unofficial title of Hull's top team after a 14-10 win at the Millennium Stadium in May.

Hull FC's win leaves them five points clear of bottom club Salford while Rovers, who started with former Hull star Paul Cooke on the bench, are just a point ahead of the Reds having played a game more after their fifth straight defeat.

We spilt too much ball and didn't want to stay in the arm wrestle long enough Hull KR coach Justin Morgan

Danny Tickle ended up with a total of 14 points and passed the milestone of 1000 career points midway through the opening half.

Rovers conceded their first try in the third minute when Craig Hall collected Richard Horne's deft kick to cross.

The home side were soon back in contention when, after an error from Garreth Carvell straight from the restart, Stanley Gene created an opening for Luke Dyer.

Tickle also posted a fine individual try which culminated in him barging over the top of Cockayne to score, with the simplest of conversions bringing up his points milestone.

Tangata-Toa pulled Rovers back into the contest with a moment of brilliance, chipping over the defence before outpacing Motu Tony and collecting to crash over the line.

And with the hooter fast approaching, an error from Ewan Dowes gave possession away and O'Neill crossed to send Rovers in ahead.

I thought we won reasonably convincingly Hull FC coach Peter Sharp

Hull FC were offered a route back into the match when Jim Gannon knocked-on straight from the kick-off at the start of the second half set Rovers up for a dreadful spell which saw them conceding 16 unanswered points.

From the subsequent set, Wheeldon powered over from close range and two minutes later Manu showed some good footwork to slip in at the corner.

As Rovers began to collapse, Yeaman grounded Richard Whiting's kick for a fifth try on 51 minutes only for debutant Lovegrove to respond with a score of his own and leave the scores at 20-28.

A Tickle penalty then stretched Hull's lead further before James Webster had a try ruled out for a forward pass as Rovers pressed.

Rovers have been dealt a blow with the news that forward Chris Chester is likely to miss the rest of the season after being withdrawn after five minutes with a broken hand.

"We lacked concentration and intensity. I thought we started to gain momentum at the end of the first half and if we'd have scored first in the second we could have pressed on.

"I'd hate to see the number of times we spilt the ball in the second half. What cost us was our ball security. The game was there to be taken.

"Chris had a bit of bone sticking out. He's at Hull Royal Infirmary having an operation now and that's him done for the season I'd imagine."

"We probably didn't deserve to be behind at the break but we made a couple of errors to let them back into the game.

"There were blokes down everywhere at one point and it was a war of attrition. We lost a few and they lost a few.

"I thought Danny Tickle was outstanding. He's been terrific for us all year, had some good carries and it's hard to kick goals when you're a second-row let me tell you."

Hull KR: Cockayne, Hardman, Lovegrove, Dyer, Lennon, Murrell, Webster, Tandy, Fisher, Ward, O'Neill, Chester, Gene.
Replacements: Tangata-Toa, Gannon, Morrison, Cooke.

Hull FC: Tony, Sing, Hall, Yeaman, Raynor, R. Horne, Head, Dowes, Godwin, Carvell, Radford, Tickle, Washbrook.
Replacements: Whiting, Manu, Wheeldon, Maiava.

Referee: B Thaler (Wakefield).