Hull FC 30 Hull KR 32: Hodgson delivers great escape as Robins stun Hull neighbours (with video)

Even from the bowels of the Etihad Stadium you could hear them avidly humming along.

If you cup your ear down Holderness Road this morning, no doubt they will still be going, and deservedly so; they had just witnessed a remarkable fightback which no one, apart from the gutsy Rovers squad, really saw coming.

With just 12 minutes remaining, and for all the skill and endeavour they brought to a truly high-quality Super League encounter, Hull KR were 30-16 down in Manchester and staring at a second derby defeat of the season against their fierce city rivals.

However, rangy centre Craig Hall – in his finest performance since leaving Hull FC 18 months ago – suddenly produced a quality flick for Sam Latus to dive over before officials somehow missed a blatant forward pass from Rhys Lovegrove as Michael Dobson further cut the deficit.

It meant, with what amounted to the final play of this engrossing fixture, winger David Hodgson could cement himself in Rovers folklore.

Nothing seemed on as he received Shannon McDonnell’s pass just inside his own half tight to the left touchline.

But the former Huddersfield Giants winger, who hails from East Hull, fended off a meek Brett Seymour tackle and then dared to get on the outside of opposite number Will Sharp.

Even when he did, Hull fans must have expected their man to make up the ground but the languid Hodgson is deceptively quick and soon it emerged there was no chance of recovery.

The enthralling contest deserved a classic effort to decide it and the 30-year-old, fresh from scoring four against Castleford last Sunday, definitely delivered something which lived up to the ‘Magic’ billing.

“I can’t remember much of the try at the moment,” Hodgson confessed afterwards.

“It’s pretty much a blur. All the other players said it was one of the best they’ve seen in a while so I will have a look back at it.

“There was a bit of space in front of me so I just thought I’d take them on.

“It’s a pretty tight short side going round Will Sharp but with a minute to go, there’s not much to lose.

“He’s a quick lad and I thought he might have had a chance of catching me. But I had enough gas and in the end I managed to get there.

“It was good to score in front of your home fans – I’m a Rovers fan too – and they were willing me on.

“But it was a great win for the boys, especially the forwards who worked hard all game.”

Indeed, their industry up front, with Lovegrove, Josh Hodgson and Ryan O’Hara particularly impressive, ensured the likes of Dobson and Hall could flourish but high-flying Hull will still be wondering how this fell away from them.

In Willie Manu, they had the game’s outstanding player, the robust second row who acted as a wrecking ball yet also showed finesse and flair in equal measure.

Rovers simply could not control the big Tongan whose delightful pass initiated Richard Horne’s try in the first half before he himself rose high to deftly take Seymour’s kick in his 150th club appearance and put them 18-12 ahead at the break.

David Hodgson scored off Dobson’s long pass in the 50th minute following some sustained pressure but when Manu’s looming presence cast further doubt in the Rovers defence he slipped Tony Martin over.

Danny Tickle kicked his 500th Hull goal to leave them 24-16 in front and, at that point, Rovers really needed to rally. Dobson’s 40/20 was just what they needed but he kicked early in the count to try to furnish Hodgson only to see the ball marginally elude his wingman.

Moments later, Jordan Turner benefited from a fortuitous kick at the other end, Tickle maintaining his 100 per cent record, and it seemed Hull were set, at the fourth attempt, to finally win a Magic Weekend derby.

However, they crucially switched off to allow Rovers a sniff and were made to pay. The warning signs were there; their opponents had shown great spirit to overcome the odds in the 10th minute when Dobson had been sin-binned for lying on Sharp.

Seymour struck immediately but Hall fended off Martin for a fine try and then, when Dobson returned, it was Hall’s slick inside pass which put McDonnell over.

So much happened before Hodgson, who has now scored nine tries in his last four games, produced that final act.

But he insisted: “We always believed when we were down 30-16 behind the posts that we could come back and hopefully snatch the win.

“We managed to do that and, with a tough game against Warrington on Sunday, have now got to build on it.

“I’m on a pretty good run but I’m playing alongside quality players, especially on the left side,” he said.

“When you are playing with quality players, opportunities will come and it’s all about taking them.”

He did, as dejected Hull found to their cost.

Hull FC: Russell; Sharp, Turner, Martin, Briscoe; Horne, Seymour; Moa, Houghton, Lynch, Manu, Tickle, Pitts. Substitutes: O’Carroll, Aspinwall, Westerman, Kent.

Hull KR: McDonnell; Latus, Hall, Welham, D Hodgson; Green, Dobson; Paea, J Hodgson, Taylor, Horne, Galea, Lovegrove. Substitutes: O’Hara, Clinton, Murrell, Withers.

Referee: S Ganson (St Helens).