Rovers see off rivals

5:20am Monday 8th September 2008

Hull KR brought the curtain down on their season in style, winning their third derby of the year against arch-rivals Hull FC 36-8.

Justin Morgan's men will now finish the campaign in seventh place after their six-try showing in the 206th Hull derby in front of a record crowd of 10,197 at the new Craven Park.

Seventh place represents a fine achievement for the Robins in only their second season in the top flight, although they were not worked too hard by a Hull side still smarting from their Challenge Cup Final defeat to St Helens a week ago.

With former Hull KR captain James Webster making his long-awaited Hull debut, the visitors did start well but quickly lost their way and were fortunate for Kirk Yeaman's try just shy of the hooter that saw them trail 18-4 at the break.

It did not take the home side long to find their feet and galvanised by some typically strong running from Stanley Gene, they took the lead with Jon Steel's ninth-minute try.

Kris Welham then became the victim of the first decision to be awarded by a video referee at a non-televised game as his score was chalked off by Ashley Klein.

A Michael Dobson penalty extended Rovers' lead to eight points, before two shows of dissent from Hull forward Jamie Thackray allowed the home side the opportunity to score two further tries.

Both came on the back of Thackray losing the ball. The first was a close-range effort from Makali Aizue for his first score of the year, before Ben Cockayne was able to squeeze in and ground Dobson's neat kick in the corner.

Despite Hull's problems with retaining possession Yeaman took in Danny Washbrook's pass to post another try with 51 minutes on the clock.

Fox crossed in the corner for the Robins as the hour-mark passed, Mick Vella plundered a fifth score from close-range and Gene poached a deserved try for himself in the closing stages to seal the win.

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