The hottest ticket of the Good Friday Rivals Round was undoubtedly for the Hull derby as the top two sides in Super League met in a round eight encounter with the top position in the table up for grabs between the fiercest of opponents.

The full house notices had been printed a week ago as the MKM became a sea of black, red and white and a cacophony of sound welcomed the gladiators to the arena.

The visitors were the favourites with the bookies and were handicapped by ten points on the coupon as they looked to repeat their victory of a fortnight ago when they eliminated the Black & Whites at the quarter final stages of the Challenge Cup.

Talisman Mikey Lewis was back for the visitors after he limped off early in the Challenge Cup match and the stage was set for the Man of Steel to shine for the league leaders.

In a try that came from nowhere on nine minuites KR took the lead through Oliver Gildart who took a Mikey Lewis outside pass, the centre outpacing the FC defence to score in the corner as Tom Briscoe tried to chase him down. Arthur Mourgue was unable to add the conversion from the left touchline, the visiting supporters in good voice.

On fifteen minutes Cade Cust hit Arthur Mourgue high with the shoulder and was shown a red card by referee Moore, a massive moment in the game, the home side down a man for the remainder of the game. FC had a mountain to climb.

On eighteen the Robins were in again after keeping the ball alive, Peta Hiku taking the final pass from Burgess and going over from five metres out. Mikey Lewis added the conversion for a 10-0 lead.

Jack Ashworth went between two KR defenders on twenty-three and collected an Aidan Sezer grubber before spinning out of the tackle and dropping to the ground for FC’s first try of the game. Will Pryce made a poor attempt at the conversion, pushing the ball well wide of the uprights.

Great sliding defence from FC prevented Tom Davies from scoring a third Robins try on thirty-one as he lost control on the line. Hull FC’s defence keeping them in the game.

A high tackle from Zak Hardaker on Lewis gave KR an additional six and two plays in Mourgue went to the line on his back under the tackle of two defenders but managed to get the ball on the ground for the third KR try of the half. The Frenchman added the conversion, the red and white’s taking a twelve-point lead into the interval.

On forty-nine the twelve men were back within eight points when Jordan Rapana and Sezer assisted, the latter providing the final pass to Tom Briscoe who stooped to collect before going over in the corner. Pryce was unable to add the conversion, FC still needing two scores.

On fifty-seven Hull FC were back within four as Jordan Rapana fended off two tacklers to score a try from twenty metres out. Pryce found the target and now the margin was just two points, a brilliant Black & Whites fightback.

A zig-zag running James Batchelor carved through the FC defence and went in from twenty-five metres out for a try on sixty-five minutes. Mourgue added the conversion and the eight òint lead was re-established.

Just two minutes later James Warea-Hargreaves took a kick tap back and summersaulted over an FC defender on the line to reach out and score. Mourgue again added the conversion for 28-14, Hull KR taking the points to go three clear at the top of the table.

A great fightback from Hull FC, against all the odds after going a man down early on, speaks volumes of their dedication. But in the end they ran out of energy as the second half drew to a close it was the Robins who started to find the space created by the extra man and scored a couple of tries in the last twenty to break Hull FC hearts and once again take the bragging rights for their supporters.

Hull FC: Pryce (G 1/3), Briscoe (T), Rapana (T), Litten, Martin, Cust (SO on 15), Sezer, Ese’ese, Bourouh, Knight, Hardaker, Chamberlain, Asiata. Subs: Ashworth (T), Aydin, Eseh, Balmforth. 18^th Man: Laidlaw.

Hull KR: Mourgue (T, G 3/4), Davies, Hiku (T), Gildart (T), Burgess, Lewis (G 1/1), May, Sue, Litten, Waerea-Hargreaves (T), Hadley, Batchelor (T), Minchella.  Subs: Broadbent, Luckley, Whitbread, Tanginoa. 18^th Man: Brown.

Half-Time: 4-16.

Full-Time: 14-28.

Score Progression:  0-4, (SO), 0-8, 0-10, 4-10, 4-14, 4-16 : HT: 8-16, 12-16, 14-16, 14-20, 14-22, 14-26, 14-28 :FT.

Lead Exchanges: KR.

Referee: Liam Moore.