Hull FC 20 Hull Kingston Rovers 16: Hull cling on to win thanks to Briscoe's late tackle

Few of the 210 derbies to date can have ended in such pulsating fashion. Trailing 20-16 with seconds remaining, desperate Rovers launched a chaotic last-tackle play which seemed certain to end with winger Fox finishing in the corner.

But, with the breathless Hull defence tied up in the middle, Briscoe somehow managed to make up an incredible amount of ground to scramble across and pull off a copybook tackle to force his England rival into touch.

The 20-year-old, axed during the Four Nations for perceived defensive weaknesses, is already a hero in Hull but will now go down in folklore as they held on for a memorable success which keeps them on course for a top four finish.

Coach Richard Agar – who labelled Rovers "cocky" after last week's win over Leeds – said: "It was a great effort from Tommy.

"He's a terrific young player and a great advert for the future of English rugby league."

Rovers coach Justin Morgan could only lament the impact of a player who is now firmly back in Steve McNamara's England plans.

"It was a great tackle; he's denied us a draw, maybe even a win, and he's certainly a talented kid," he said.

"We tried our backsides off but Hull played very well and we have no complaints."

Briscoe's effort was characteristic of Hull as a squad as they defended valiantly against rivals who were seeking to go five games unbeaten and close in on the top four themselves.

In truth, the hosts, in front of a vociferous crowd of 20,079, should have had the game sewn up long before the dramatic final stages which had also witnessed a massive brawl which ended with Mark Calderwood and Ben Cockayne in the sin-bin and could well see further action from the RFL.

With Richard Horne's kicking game keeping the visitors penned back, Hull dominated the early stages and Danny Houghton sniped his way over off Danny Washbrook's off-load in the eighth minute.

The combustible Cockayne gifted them a further two points when the Rovers centre needlessly shoved marker Washbrook while playing the ball, Danny Tickle adding the penalty to his earlier conversion.

But Hull wasted a golden opportunity to increase the advantage when Mark Calderwood bombed a try in the 16th minute.

Agar had said pre-match that the electric winger – playing his first game since March following a severe hamstring injury – would, with that pace, have scored an opportunity his side wasted in the loss at Wakefield on Saturday.

But all Calderwood had to do last night was fall on the loose ball after Rovers pair Shaun Briscoe and nervy youngster Sam Latus made a hash of Jordan Tansey's towering kick.

Instead, the ex-Leeds player tried gathering and somehow fumbled with a horrendous gaffe. Seconds later, Josh Charnley, the 18-year-old centre on loan from Wigan, was sprinting in at the other end for his first Super League try.

Michael Dobson converted and – at 8-6 – the visitors suddenly sprung to life with the Australian's kicking taking charge, forcing 40/20s and drop outs alike to gain them position.

However, with Washbrook, Lee Radford and Ewan Dowes to the fore, Hull defended with spirit and survived to engineer the best chances before the break.

Fox shot in to deny Kirk Yeaman with a thundering tackle before Tickle found himself breaking clear.

The effervescent Houghton, who proved Rovers' scourge all night, combined with Horne to set-up an overlap which Epalahame Lauakai wasted, Agar's side having to settle for Tickle's penalty instead.

Rovers drew level two minutes after the re-start when Clint Newton charged on to Dobson's pass but the creator could not convert. Willie Manu put Hull back ahead on 55 minutes when Yeaman brilliantly tapped down Horne's kick, Yeaman further endearing himself to the home faithful by nonchalantly dragging Rovers' firebrand Newton to the ground in an ensuing melee.

Ten minutes later, Calderwood made up for his earlier aberration by racing down Horne's kick and hacking in field from the touchline for Shaun Berrigan to collect and dive over, Tickle's second conversion making it

20-10.

After the brawl, strapping Rovers' loose forward Liam Watts enhanced his growing reputation with a skilful dummy and finish with seven minutes to go, Dobson improving, before Briscoe came to the rescue.

Hull FC: Whiting; Calderwood, Turner, Yeaman, T Briscoe; Tansey, Horne; Dowes, Houghton, Radford, Manu, Tickle, Washbrook. Substitutes: Cusack, Lauaki, Moa, Berrigan

Hull KR: S Briscoe; Fox, Charnley, Cockayne, Latus; Murrell, Dobson; Vella, Fisher, Clinton, Newton, Galea, Watts. Substitutes: Wheeldon, Netherton, Hodgson, Lovegrove

Referee: P Bentham (Warrington).