Hull KR 22-30 Hull FC: Visitors overcome Bureta Faraimo red to win Super League thriller
By PA
Last Updated: 30/03/18 4:41pm
Hull FC overcame the early sending off of winger Bureta Faraimo to claim a gutsy 30-22 victory over Hull KR in a Super League thriller at Craven Park.
Faraimo was sent off by referee Chris Kendall for a dangerous tackle on Chris Atkin but his team-mates dug deep to secure a remarkable win in the first meeting between the bitter rivals since Rovers' return to Super League.
Fetuli Talanoa took his try tally for the season to nine with a double while Danny Houghton marked his return from injury with a score and Jamie Shaul and Jake Connor also crossed.
Thomas Minns scored a hat-trick for the hosts and Ryan Shaw went over but Rovers were unable to make their man advantage count as Hull made it six straight derby wins to the delight of their travelling supporters in a crowd of 12,090.
Key duo Danny McGuire and Shaun Lunt failed fitness tests and it looked as if it was going to be one of those days for Rovers when Houghton touched down two minutes in after Mickey Paea had the ball knocked from his grasp reaching for the line.
But the contest swung dramatically in the Robins' favour when Faraimo saw red after hitting Atkin late and high with a shoulder.
It did not take the hosts long to take advantage of Hull's depleted right edge, Justin Carney racing clear down the wing before passing inside for Minns to finish.
Hull were understandably rattled by Faraimo's dismissal and they appeared in danger of caving when Adam Quinlan ghosted over out wide, only for his effort to be ruled out for obstruction.
That proved to be a crucial moment as the Black and Whites hit their rivals with a quick one-two.
First Talanoa showed good strength to force his way over in the corner and then Shaul was in support to finish off a break by Carlos Tuimavave to leave the home fans stunned.
Marc Sneyd converted both tries to make it 18-6 but Rovers were back in it when Carney passed back inside for Minns to score his second.
Former Rovers half-back Albert Kelly hobbled off to huge cheers as Shaw lined up his conversion to further improve the mood of the Robins supporters.
The winger successfully added the extras and then had a try disallowed for obstruction as the hosts turned the screw.
But a stirring first-half had one final twist - Talanoa strolling in from Shaul's pass after Hull had created a two-on-one out wide to give the visitors a 22-12 lead at the break.
Rovers needed to score next after the restart and they did just that through Shaw's sixth try of the season from Matty Marsh's pass.
But they were unable to build on their promising start and were on their knees when Connor took a long pass from Kelly - back on after injury - to mark his 100th career appearance with a try.
Sneyd slotted over a penalty to put Hull three scores clear and ensure Minns' third try was nothing more than a personal milestone.
