Hull KR v Hull FC: Hull derby prize has Lynch out for Rovers revenge

The East Yorkshire club started the campaign in impressive fashion to emerge as one of the early contenders but have fallen spectacularly ahead of tonight’s crucial derby with Hull KR.

Since losing agonisingly to the same opponents in the last seconds at Magic Weekend, they have won just once in six fixtures.

That sees them now hanging on to the all-important final play-off spot of eighth with Rovers just behind knowing victory at Craven Park this evening will see them close the gap to a single point.

Given the amount of investment made by Hull owner Adam Pearson, it would be unthinkable for the Airlie Birds to fall out of the reckoning but Lynch maintains, for all their problems, it will not happen.

“No one’s talking about that,” he told the Yorkshire Post.

“We know we’re in a bit of a blip regarding our form but no one’s talking like that.

“We’re still aiming high and the pressure now is to get better each week.

“This is a massive game for us, not just because it’s the derby but because of the situation in the table.

“We know a win will put us five points clear of Rovers. That’s a big gap for them to make up.

“With the other teams around us too, we know we need a win on Monday to get moving up the ladder.”

The start of Hull’s change in fortunes can be traced back to that nightmarish fixture in Manchester.

Leading Rovers 30-14 with just 12 minutes remaining, Peter Gentle’s side seemed all set for a memorable second derby win of the season.

However, they somehow managed to crumble amid late pressure and, with the last play, David Hodgson escaped down the left flank to complete a remarkable comeback at 32-30 which left stunned Hull dumbfounded.

“It’s always hard suffering any defeat – especially in a derby – but to lose it like that in the dying seconds was really difficult,” admitted Lynch, no stranger to such Magic drama given his painful experiences with Bradford Bulls.

“It took us a while to get over it and we’ve only won once since. Our form’s been far from great but we can’t put it all down to that single game; we can’t hang our displays since on what happened at Manchester.

“It did probably contribute but you have to look at other parts of that match against Rovers.

“We should have scored more points than we did and never be in that position.

“But, if we can get our performance and mentality right, we can come away with a derby win now.”

Experienced centre Tony Martin tore his Achilles that evening, ruling him out for the year, and a host of colleagues have endured injury problems since to jeopardise Hull’s season.

With Australian prop Mark O’Meley missing, England second-row Danny Tickle and prop Sam Moa followed and now Ben Crooks is the latest crocked in a list that runs to 13.

Lynch, a revelation since joining from Bradford in a £100,000 deal last winter, said: “I think everyone can turn around and use that as an excuse but we can’t accept that.

“We had 30 players here at the start of the season in a full-time squad ready to play when needed,” he said.

“Some of the young lads like Chris Green, Liam Kent and James Cunningham have come in and taken their chances so people are ready but it’s the attitude in the group that’s not been right.

“It’s been very disappointing. We have got to start playing with a tougher mentality.

“We’ve not been doing that and must produce it against Rovers,” he added.

“We know we can as we did earlier in the year but we have to rediscover our attitude and physicality.”

Hull give winger Jamie Foster a debut after he signed on a month’s loan from St Helens, the fact he is wearing squad number 40 highlighting just how many players Gentle has been forced to use this term.

England Knights hooker Danny Houghton also makes a timely return to the their squad while their opponents hope to have captain Ben Galea and Hodgson both back from injury.

Rovers are bidding to arrest a three-game losing run but coach Craig Sandercock remains upbeat as they look to compound their rivals’ misery.

“Those losses have all been close games so it is not as if we haven’t been turning up and competing,” said the Australian, their last two home fixtures being a 24-22 defeat to Salford City Reds and 13-10 reverse against French side Catalan Dragons.

“The effort has been great. You don’t lose games with close margins like the ones we have without putting the effort in and they’ll start getting their reward soon.

“It’s my first home derby too and I can’t wait to see a packed house here.

“It raises the bar and is probably the closet a Super League game gets to the NRL.”

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