Hull Kingston Rovers 14 Hull FC 18: Agar ends Hull derby woes as Robins are grounded

After losing six of the last seven derbies, the Airlie Birds edged home courtesy of Jordan Tansey's 66th-minute try, one of the few moments of attacking class in a low-quality affair at Craven Park.

But the victory was built on a remarkable defensive effort as tireless Hull protected their line for most of the final quarter, twice holding Rovers out for four successive sets.

"Our defence won it," said Agar, as Hull bounced back from a surprise loss at Salford to stay in touch with the leading pack courtesy of a sixth victory.

"It was asked a lot of big questions – both by Hull KR and a heft penalty count – but every single one was answered.

"Apart from one mis-read which saw Kris Welham score in the first half, it just kept working hard for each other time and time again. We were a little bit dumb at times with the ball but very, very courageous.

"Courage was the biggest part of our performance. The spirit and determination was excellent."

Both sides entered the game on the back of defeats and it was apparent each slightly lacked conviction, leading to a mistake-ridden contest with referee Richard Silverwood also awarding 25 penalties.

However, Ben Cockayne gave Rovers the perfect start after just three minutes, picking up an unusually loose pass from Hull captain Sean Long to race in unopposed from 45 metres.

It was a real gift for the winger, back in the side for broken jaw victim Liam Colbon, which Michael Dobson improved.

Dobson slotted a penalty soon after when Willie Manu held down Clint Newton in the tackle leaving Hull shaken at 8-0 down.

However, the visitors steadily found their composure and, after Craig Hall had nearly fashioned a try following a break down the right, England winger Tom Briscoe got over in the 17th minute.

Cockayne cheaply handed over possession in the tackle and Hull capitalised.

Manu made a strong run before crashing Craig Fitzgibbon through half a gap. The veteran Australian managed to slip a pass to Briscoe who showed great strength to stretch over.

Tickle converted but Rovers – who had barely any attacking position – responded swiftly when Tansey spilled Tickle's forced pass on halfway.

Welham latched onto Dobson's pass and easily got on the outside of the badly-positioned Hall with the stranded Richard Whiting unable to prevent the centre getting the ball down.

Dobson again improved but Rhys Lovegrove spilled in the first tackle after the restart to hand Hull a way back in.

Long's typical grubber bounced up perfectly for Fitzgibbon to score and Tickle's second conversion saw them trail just 14-12 at the break.

A Scott Wheeldon flop on Tansey saw Hull – who had lost their last three away games to see their early challenge stumble – level just three minutes after the restart but Rovers, on the back of continued penalties, then began their push.

Hall just clung on to Chaz I'Anson after the young stand-off sliced though, Long put his body on the line to thwart Jake Webster and the likes of Fitzgibbon and Ewan Dowes continually muscled up to frustrate the hosts.

Hull escaped long enough for Tansey to score, hitting a perfect line of Richard Horne's pass to round Shaun Briscoe with Tickle converting, and then Agar's durable side defended stoically again. They shut down Rovers' options although the hosts did offer little variety. Dobson made some poor decisions and when their artful scrum-half has an off-day, the Robins do generally struggle for ideas.

Ben Galea put Peter Fox over with a splendid cut-out pass but it was ruled out by video referee Stuart Cummings after the smallest of knock-ons by Scott Murrell at the play-the-ball.

Rovers then saw Newton put on report in the 78th minute for an off-the-ball charge on Tansey as the Australian forward followed his own kick.

"We just never converted the field position," said coach Justin Morgan.

"Our execution was off. The effort was great as was the aggression and we defended great but we just couldn't put the final piece of the puzzle together. It hurts to lose games like this especially when we'd earned good field position like that. We came up with one good play but unfortunately there was a knock-on.

"We know we're not far away from turning all this field position into points and start to get some consecutive wins.

"It's a concern and we probably wasted a few plays. We've got to learn to stop wasting opportunities like that."

Hull Kingston Rovers: S Briscoe; Fox, Welham, Webster, Cockayne; I'Anson, Dobson; Vella, Murrell, Clinton, Newton, Netherton, Galea. Substitutes: Hodgson, Lovegrove, Watts, Wheeldon.

Hull FC: Tansey; Whiting, Hall, Yeaman, T Briscoe; Horne, Long; Cusack, Berrigan, O'Meley, Manu, Tickle, Fitzgibbon. Substitutes: Radford, Lauaki, Dowes, Houghton.

Referee: R Silverwood (Mirfield).