Derby joy for Airlie Birds

Kirk Yeaman celebrates after scoring one of his brace of tries against Hull KR

Hull FC gained revenge for their Millennium Magic derby defeat by claiming a 36-18 victory over Hull KR at the KC Stadium.

There was not much to choose between the cross-city rivals before the interval, although a debut try from Martin Gleeson edged the Black and Whites ahead at the half.

But the hosts would go on to dominate after the break, with Richard Whiting and Tom Briscoe both crossing, while Kirk Yeaman added to his third-minute try with another score late on.

The Rovers defence stood firm on their own line for much of the second half until finally buckling under immense pressure and in the end they were comfortably beaten despite tries from Matt Cook, Kris Welham and Ben Cockayne.

Hull, who suffered a 34-22 defeat to the Robins on the opening weekend of the season in Cardiff, raced out of the gates and went ahead in the early stages.

Early try

Winger Tom Briscoe set the tone for a fine individual performance as he played in Yeaman for the opening try, to finish a flowing move that went through the hands of Richard Horne and Willie Manu.

Danny Tickle added the extras but the vistors pulled level before the 10-minute mark when Matt Cook, replacing the de-registered Willie Mason, skipped past Cameron Phelps to touch down under the posts.

Rovers just missed out on going ahead through winger Peter Fox, and instead it was the hosts who re-took the lead thanks to a Sean Long try.

The scrum-half was awarded a benefit-of-the-doubt score by the video referee after replays failed to show clearly whether or not he had been held up by Cockayne.

Returning Hull KR scrum-half Michael Dobson would not be upstaged by his opposite number, however, laying on a brilliant flat pass for Welham to cross for his 10th try of the season.

Dobson's conversion levelled the scores at 12-12 but the home fans were soon back no their feet as Long sent play to the right, where his former St Helens team-mate Gleeson grabbed a debut try.

Tackle

Hull FC began to assert themselves after the half-time interval, although Briscoe was forced to make a try-saving tackle as a break from Fox went almost the full length of the field.

The was no shortage of last-ditch defending at the other end, either, as Jake Webster's steal prevented a sure four points before Gleeson (twice) and Whiting were stopped just short.

The breakthrough finally came when Long found Whiting, who showed great agility to touch down before finding touch.

Rovers hit back when Green played Cockayne in to make it 22-18, but the hosts were soon back on top as Tickle slotted a penalty to earn them six points of breathing space.

Victory was not assured until the closing minutes, however, as Yeaman grabbed his second after Willie Manu's powerful charge and Briscoe broke free for a deserved try right at the end.