Round 22
Hull KR 24 d. Hull FC 18

2009 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: engage English Super League

Cooke the star as Rovers win the Hull derby
Sun July 26, 2009
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Forgotten man Paul Cooke gave both sides of the River Hull a timely reminder of his abilities with a stunning performance that earned Hull Kingston Rovers a seventh derby win in 10 attempts against their bitter rivals Hull FC at Craven Park this evening.

Since shocking the game in 2007 when he resigned from Hull to take up a contract with his boyhood team, the 28-year-old has struggled to consistently produce his best form and has often been left in the shadows by his half-back partner Michael Dobson.

But the talismanic stand-off delivered when it mattered the most, scoring two tries and creating another as the Robins cemented their place in the top four while condemning Hull to a 14th defeat in 18 games to increase the heat on their crestfallen coach Richard Agar.

Neither side came into the 208th clash between the two in the best of health, with Rovers having won just two of their last eight while Agar spent the week since an unconvincing win over Celtic Crusaders attempting to placate his club's fans after criticising their support.

But it was the home side who managed to shake off their recent troubles the quickest by grabbing two tries in a frantic opening five minutes.

The first fell to Dobson in the third minute, with the scrum-half having the easiest of runs to the line after Cooke collected his floated kick just inches to the ground and returned it to him with a sublime one-handed pass.

Not content with that, Cooke added his first try two minutes later. His towering punt caught Hull full-back Jordan Tansey flat-footed and, after allowing the ball to bounce, he could only watch as it thumped the bar and then into the arms of Cooke who had been the quickest to react.

Dobson converted both to open up an early 12-0 lead.

With passions running high Nick Fozzard and Josh Cordoba traded blows while Rovers were rocked by an injury to Shaun Briscoe that saw him forced from the field.

Sensing their chance, Hull nearly got back into the game when Mark Calderwood had a try chalked out by the video referee who deemed that Tansey had been tackled by Peter Fox before offloading to the winger, while Rovers could have had two more tries were it not for a couple of uncharacteristic handling errors from Ben Galea.

And Hull managed to punish their hosts for their profligacy a minute before the break when Tansey, making just his second appearance for the club, scored after a kick from Richard Horne. Danny Tickle converted to extend his run of being the only player in the competition to score in every game this season to 23.

A Dobson penalty gave Rovers some breathing space after the restart but it did not last long as Craig Hall's try saw Hull roar back into the game once again.

Shaun Berrigan's 40-20 kick set-up move and, after Horne slotted another kick through the line, Hall was on hand to ground his second score in as many games.

With Rovers on the ropes, Hull gave them a reprieve with 25 minutes remaining when Richard Whiting lost possession as he went over for a try that would have given Hull the lead for the first time.

Rovers made the most of their second life as Dobson punted a 40-20 kick of his own setting up a play that allowed Cooke to utilise all of his 6ft 5inch frame to snake his way over from dummy half, only for Hull to again hit back in kind as Calderwood darted in at the corner with 15 minutes remaining.

With the outcome in the balance once more, Hull again bombed the chance to take the lead as Hall threw a forward pass to Gareth Raynor as he crossed in the corner and typically, Rovers made them pay as Jake Webster slid over the line with 11 minutes left following a scything break from Ben Fisher.

Then, with Hull applying some late pressure, Cooke calmly stroked home a 40-20 kick with a minute remaining to cap a remarkable display.


Morgan calls on the Red and White Army
Fri July 24, 2009
Source: http://www.hullkr.co.uk

Head Coach Justin Morgan is calling on all Rovers fans to create a mass of red and white support at Craven Park and roar the Robins onto victory this Saturday .

As the club received an additional stock of both home and away replica shirts, shorts and socks this week, Morgan is encouraging the fans to sport their club colours and be loud and proud this Saturday, providing his players with the loyal support that they are so used to receiving at a Craven Park derby.

Rovers take on Hull FC this Saturday (25th July) 6pm kick-off and Morgan commented: "We want to give our supporters something to cheer about, retaining city bragging rights and running out in front of a sea of Red and White fans will be a great spectacle for rugby league in general."

And the Head Coach considers home advantages crucial to his men in securing two points, especially when facing the team from across the city, strongly believing that the fans will have a major role to play, in what is described as the biggest derby in the engage Super League competition.

He added: "This is a massive game for the fans and this great club, we don't go on record as often as we would like in telling the fans how important they are to the players.

"I know the Red and White army will get behind us and it would be fantastic if we could sell-out the stadium with over 10,000 supporters."

As Rovers will be playing in their home colours of Red and White and FC in their familiar home colours of Black and White, the club have a range of replica kit sizes now in stock from the official retail store 269 Holderness Road or from the Craven Park store.

Tickets for the North Stand only are still available for this fixture online - http://www.hullkr.co.uk, via telephone 0844 2490 105 or in store - 269 Holderness Road or from the Craven Park store.

Book now to secure your spot at the biggest and most exciting derby in the engage Super League competition!

Fri July 24, 2009
• Hull FC v Hull KR Preview
  
Thu July 16, 2009
• Craven Park set for sell-out crowd
  

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