Super League: Hull FC 22-16 Hull KR

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Chris Green

Hull FC's stunning but controversial Etihad Stadium comeback earned a first Magic Weekend derby win over Hull KR.

Rovers led 10-6 at the break, scores from Greg Eden and Craig Hall more than cancelling out Richard Whiting's try.

Michael Dobson's penalty and an Alex Brown try looked enough when Rovers led by 10 points with eight minutes left.

But late tries from Tom Lineham, Kirk Yeaman and Chris Green - later ruled to be incorrectly allowed - snatched a dramatic win for the Black and Whites.

After trailing 16-6, Lineham's converted try eight minutes from time set up a breathtaking finale in which Hull scored twice more, both clouded in controversy.

With just five minutes left, Yeaman was eventually adjudged to have got the ball down on the line by the video referee despite the Robins' protests.

When Yeaman's try was allowed to stand, at 16-16, Daniel Holdsworth had a chance to win it, only to fire wide with the conversion.

But more controversy then followed when Holdsworth's high ball was totally misjudged by Eden and prop Green ran in to ground the ball.

Replays showed that Green appeared to be in an offside position when the ball was played.

The Rugby Football League showed a commendable sense of urgency in releasing a statement within three hours of the final whistle, admitting that video referee Steve Ganson had "made an incorrect decision in awarding a try".

But the Black and Whites did not care.

Holdsworth this time added the conversion to seal their eighth victory in nine matches in all competitions.

It also avenged the 23-10 defeat by their city neighbours earlier this season, not to mention last year's last-minute 34-32 derby defeat on the same ground.

Hull FC found themselves having to desperately defend their own line early on before a Holdsworth 40/20 relieved the pressure, culminating in Whiting spinning through two challenges to squeeze the ball down between the posts.

The Robins, who came into the game on the back of an impressive result against Wakefield, drew level when Hull FC lost the ball 10 metres out from their goal-line and a Hall breakaway ended with Dobson handing off for Eden to run in from just inside the opposition 40.

Hall then gave Craig Sandercock's Rovers the lead when he caught Dobson's well-measured high kick one handed in the corner to touch down for a sixth try of the season.

Hull FC, looking to pull four points clear of their rivals, had plenty of ball at the start of the second period but a combination of poor handling and strong defending from the Robins stopped them from levelling the scores.

Dobson relieved some of the pressure by slotting a penalty after Mark O'Meley's high hit on Con Mika and, minutes later, the Robins made their rivals pay for their profligacy by running in a try when Eden's long pass was touched down in the corner by Brown.

The Black and Whites continued to apply pressure but were unable to get on the scoreboard until eight minutes from the end when Lineham's try in the corner was converted by Holdsworth to set up the thrilling finish.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Hull FC coach Peter Gentle told BBC Sport:

"I think it sort of squared it up for last year. I'm not sure on the ruling, but I'll take it.

"We only played for 10 minutes. The opening 70 was probably the worst we've played in weeks.

"The amount of chances we bombed you start to think it isn't going to be your day.

"We pride ourselves on our defence and we were against a very good attacking side."

Hull KR coach Craig Sandercock told BBC Sport:

"It's a tragedy. I'll be very disappointed if the video referee doesn't come out and publicly apologise.

"We're devastated. It's blatantly offside and we can't understand it.

"I'm proud of the boys. To come within a whisker with the side we had today was pretty special.

"Sometimes in this great game you don't get what you deserve and we didn't today."

SATURDAY'S MAGIC WEEKEND LINE-UPS

Hull FC: McDonnell; Lineham, Crooks, Yeaman, T Briscoe; Holdsworth, Horne; O'Meley, Houghton, Green, Ellis, Whiting, Pitts.

Replacements: Lynch, Heremaia, Watts, Johnson.

Hull KR: Eden; Brown, Salter, Hall, George; Burns, Dobson; Paea, J Hodgson, Walker, Horne, Lovegrove, Mika.

Replacements: Tuimavave, Withers, Netherton, Cox.

Referee: Ben Thaler (Wakefield).

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