Two-try Bureto Faraimo steers Hull FC to timely derby win over Hull KR

The USA winger, for instance, was sent off for a high tackle just nine minutes into the Easter meeting at Craven Park two years ago.

You can imagine the reaction he got then from the incensed Rovers faithful.

Last night, though, in an empty stadium at St Helens rather than the cauldron of his club’s fiercest rivals, was an altogether more enjoyable experience, even if there were no Hull fans there to witness it.

Faraimo’s two tries, along with one searing run that helped set up Josh Bowden’s opener, created the platform for a hard-fought win in a derby contest like no other before in the fixture’s long history.

Fellow wideman, Ratu Naulago, also crossed for a brace and it was fitting that - as Andy Last’s improving team made it four wins from five outings - two wingers should contribute so heavily to the cause. This game, of course, did not only see a Super League win up for grabs but also the Clive Sullivan Trophy, the silverware in honour of the legendary and iconic Great Britain winger who served both clubs with such distinction.

Sullivan - who died in 1985 at the age of 42 - would surely have been proud of the way both these impressive players demonstrated their craft.

Faraimo’s swashbuckling run, that saw him swat aside countless defenders of a 60m burst, was eventually ended but it gave Joe Cator the position to slip Bowden through untouched for that ninth minute score.

Marc Sneyd added the first of his three goals but Rovers - despite their woe at the foot of the table - quickly showed they would make this a contest.

Kane Linnett’s impressive off-load gave Dean Hadley the chance to dummy over against his former employers, Will Dagger improving.

And, as the hits flew in, this had all the hallmarks of a traditionally intense and physical match-up regardless of the bizarre conditions.

A loose ball was picked up by Jake Connor - playing at full-back after Josh Griffin was a late withdrawal owing to Covid-related reasons - who dabbed through for Faraimo to perfectly pick up and slide over for his first. Rovers remained patient, though, working their way to the Hull goalline on their next attack much like a rugby union side would pick and drive, inching closer before Linnett finally got over.

In the restart set, however, Ben Crooks spilled to invite the Black and Whites instantly back in, Connor’s inch-perfect cut-out pass allowing Naulago to sneak in for his first.

Crucially for Last’s side, they added another before the break, Cator’s deft hands once more getting them close via the marauding Andre Savelio and then Connor showing great footwork before slipping Ligi Sao in for his first try in Hull colours.

Sneyd’s conversion made it 22-12 at the interval and Rovers also suffered a blow with half-back Jordan Abdull departing injured. Faraimo finished off his second try at the start of the second and Naulago then did likewise but Tony Smith’s side would not lie down,

They should have made more of a couple of decent positions but Robbie Mulhern spilled for a second time in the game and, when tested, Hull’s defence was generally up to the task.

Nevertheless, Sneyd added a drop goal to make sure, his decision proving prescient as Crooks responded with KR’s third try soon after when George King had been denied.

Ben McNamara, the teenager who came in at stand-off for his first derby experience after Griffin’s withdrawal, played well alongside Sneyd and Danny Houghton made a record 33rd derby appearance. But, once more, it was Connor’s class that came to the fore at the telling moments, allowing those aforementioned wingers to flourish.

It was a shame, then, he had to depart injured towards the end but he had certainly made his mark and, all smiles on the bench, it did not look too serious.

Hull’s win percentage is now up to 52.94% in sixth place and so, if the play-offs do get extended, they could yet cause some upsets further up the table.

Hull KR: Dagger; Rawsthorne, Kenny-Dowall, Linnett, Crooks; Abdull, Lewis; Lawler, Parcell, King, Hauraki, Hadley, Minchella. Substitutes: Mulhern, Gee, Maher, Milnes.

Hull FC: Connor; Naulago, Tuimavave, Fonua, Faraimo; McNamara, Sneyd; Taylor, Johnstone, Bowden, Ma’u, Savelio, Cator. Substitutes: Satae, Houghton, Sao, Fash.

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