10 April 2021

Hull FC powered past Rovers on the back of a clinical first half performance, and the only shock in this Challenge Cup tie was the reversal in fortunes after the break, with Rovers keeping the Super League giants pointless whilst scoring two well worked tries themselves. It was centres Carlos Tuimavave and Josh Griffin that did most of the early damage with two tries apiece.

Rovers took a surprise lead with their first spell of possession, Dane Chisholm’s grubber on the last tackle sitting up nicely for Josh Hardcastle to pounce. That lead was short-lived, however, as Hull also scored with their first sight of the Rovers’ posts, an almost carbon copy of Hardcastle’s effort. Winger Bureta Farimo raced on to Houghton’s grubber to touch down in the corner. Jake Connor landed the touchline conversion to give his side a two point lead, which they extended two minutes later through Carlos Tuimavave, who’s kick through evaded Hall and bounced kindly for him to pick up and stroll over. Apart from Brad Day being held up over the line on 28 minutes that was the last we saw of Rovers before the break. For Hull,  Mcnamara chipped through for Griffin to hack on and pick up close enough to race over, then the powerful centre doubled his tally as a passing move in front of the posts gave him the space to barge over. Tuimavave then registered his brace when the elusive Connor put him through after a lateral run. Finally Johnstone took a return pass off a neat run around to score near the posts. Connor added the extras to all four scores as Hull entered the break thirty points up and looking likely to notch up a cricket score by the end.

When Connor’s restart forced a goal line drop out it seemed the agony was about to continue for Rovers, but when Holmes picked up a loose ball and raced to halfway they enjoyed their best spell of the game, Parata scorched through and looked a likely scorer before a desperate ankle tap brought him down, and then Hall’s teasing kick to the corner marginally evaded Ben Blackmore. The pressure finally told when Brown threaded a little kick through for Brett Ferres to race on to and register his 100th career try. Rovers kept up the intensity and had two further tries disallowed, first Harrison for a double movement, then Blackmore was recalled for a forward pass. He didn’t have to wait long, however, and he raced on to Chisholm’s delicate chip over the top into space before stepping inside Connor on his way to the posts. Chisholm took over the tee and landed the easier conversion. With Rovers having much the better of the second period Hull stepped up their effort to keep them at bay and even threatened once or twice themselves before winding the clock down on an uncomfortable second period whilst progressing on the back of their first half performance.