Hull FC 10-14 Hull KR
Image | www.hullkr.co.uk
Used with permission
Paul Cooke had the final word on his controversial switch across the city of Hull with a man of the match performance to lead his new club Rovers to their first derby win over FC in a decade.
In the tightest game of the weekend, just two Cooke goals proved the difference as Rovers edged home 14-10.
It was Cooke's grubber kick that set the ball rolling, the ball bouncing kindly for Makali Aizue to register the first try, and when Ben Cockayne crossed for try number two, following a Cooke penalty, the Robins were flying.
As it turned out, those 14 points in the first 25 minutes proved all Rovers would score in Cardiff, but it was enough.
Gareth Raynor put FC back in the game right on half time, and Sid Domic got Rovers sweating on 49 with a try to reduce arrears to just four.
The unbearable tension, enhanced by the closed roof, remained for the final 30 minutes. KR coach Justin Morgan thought the game was safe when Cockayne crossed for his second, only for his effort to be ruled out.
Rovers managed to hold out for the two points though, a much needed win after a run of 8 straight defeats.