Hull Kingston Rovers power past Hull FC 24-6 in derby milestone for Willie Peters
Hull Kingston Rovers turned a landmark derby into a statement performance, beating Hull FC 24-6 at Craven Park and extending their control of the rivalry to seven straight wins. The result carried extra weight because it may have been coach Willie Peters’ final home derby after his announcement that he will leave at the end of the season. In a match shaped by key moments and one crucial disallowed try, hull kingston rovers showed enough composure, pressure and timing to pull away when the contest was still alive.
Why this derby mattered now
The victory was more than a local bragging right. It kept the Clive Sullivan Trophy with Hull KR and came in the 250th competitive Hull derby, a number that gave the result historical significance as well as immediate table value. Hull KR climbed above Hull FC in the Super League standings, underlining how a single derby can shift both emotion and position. For Peters, the win also carried a personal edge: it arrived in a setting that may not be repeated at home. That combination of milestone, rivalry and uncertainty made hull kingston rovers feel bigger than a routine league result.
How the match swung in Hull KR’s favour
The game opened quickly. Jack Broadbent broke the deadlock inside 10 minutes after sharp work from Mikey Lewis, with Lewis adding the conversion. Broadbent then produced a decisive defensive moment, stopping Lewis Martin from scoring at the other end. Hull KR doubled their lead through Ollie Gildart after sustained pressure, although Lewis could not convert that try. Hull FC stayed in touch through Tom Briscoe, who finished after Aidan Sezer’s pass, and Zak Hardaker converted to keep the visitors within reach at half-time.
After the break, Hull FC thought they had levelled through Martin, but the try was ruled out for a lack of clean connection. That decision proved pivotal. Soon after, John Asiata went off injured, and Hull KR responded by restoring a two-score lead through Jez Litten. Tyrone May’s jinking run created the opening, and Lewis converted to make it 16-6. From there, the home side controlled the closing stages.
Broadbent, Litten and Burgess define the night
Hull KR’s victory was built on different types of contribution rather than one dominant spell. Broadbent delivered in attack and defence, scoring first and then preventing a major Hull FC breakthrough. Litten added spark when he returned, while Tyrone May supplied the decisive movement that broke the game open. Joe Burgess finished the contest with two late tries, including a composed effort from a team move and a second score in the final minutes after another flowing attack involving May, Lewis and Broadbent. Burgess’s double gave the scoreline a more complete shape than the match had at half-time.
For Peters, the pattern was important. The second half did not begin exactly as planned, but the side stayed with the contest until the pressure turned into points. That patience mattered in a derby where Hull FC had moments to shift momentum but could not convert them into a sustained comeback.
What Peters and the numbers reveal about the rivalry
Across the 250 competitive derbies, Hull KR’s 24-6 win now forms part of a wider balance sheet that still favours Hull FC on total victories, but the recent trend is firmly with Rovers. This seventh successive derby success reflects more than one afternoon’s form; it suggests a side that has learned how to manage the emotional and tactical stress of the fixture. Peters said the club had spoken about the 250th derby, calling the trophy one they do not take lightly, and he praised the forwards, Broadbent, Jesse Sauaso Sue, Tom Amone, Jez Litten and Elliot Minchella for their part in the win.
That assessment fits the evidence on the field. Hull KR did not need a flawless display to dominate. They needed field position, defensive resilience and a stronger finish. They got all three, and the result now raises a larger question: with the derby balance tilting and Peters nearing the end of his spell, how much more can hull kingston rovers still extract from a season already defined by pressure and milestones?
