Tom Briscoe's memorable tackle steers Hull to double over Rovers

Tom Briscoe is from Pontefract but he earned a place in Hull sporting folklore with a magnificent try-saving tackle that settled this compelling derby. The powerful young England wing denied his opposite number Peter Fox an equalising score with 41 seconds remaining, securing a double that consolidates Hull's place in the top four of the Super League table – and, far more importantly on the night, leaves them well-placed to finish above Rovers for the first time in three years. They are now five points ahead with only five matches remaining and, when the dust settles on a match that also included an astonishing miss and a major brawl, that should be a cause for great satisfaction given the injuries that ruled out Sean Long, Mark O'Meley and Craig Fitzgibbon, the three old heads who were signed last winter partly to end Rovers' superiority. Richard Agar, Hull's coach, claimed that Rovers' "cockiness" had helped to motivate his players – specifically the blond rinses sported by Clint Newton and Fox. "When they've got blokes doing their hair and planning try celebrations before the game, that gave us extra motivation to play well," he said. Hull should have been well ahead by half-time, but instead had to settle for a 10-6 lead after fluffing several chances – with Mark Calderwood pipping Hame Lauaki as the worst offender. Danny Houghton, whose exuberance from acting half set the tone for his team's performance, seized a half-chance to put Hull ahead in the eighth minute and Danny Tickle kicked three goals. But a bad defensive error by Kirk Yeaman allowed Josh Charnley to score a try that kept Rovers in contention and 80 seconds into the second half they were level when Newton surged over on the right. At that stage the force seemed to be with Rovers, but Hull regained the lead in the 55th minute when Yeaman flicked back Richard Horne's chip to Willie Manu whose strength took him over the line. Then another accurate Horne kick was hacked inside by Calderwood for Shaun Berrigan to scamper between the posts. But the fun was only just starting, as in the 68th minute Calderwood and Ben Cockayne sparked a mêlée which ended with the referee Phil Bentham showing considerable restraint to send only the instigators to the sin bin. The atmosphere then cranked up another notch when the young Rovers prop Liam Watts charged over with eight minutes remaining to reduce the deficit to four points and Lauaki handed Hull KR a last attacking chance with a moment of madness that sparked another mini-scuffle. But he was rescued by Briscoe. Hull FC Whiting; Calderwood, Turner, Yeaman, T Briscoe; Tansey, Horne; Dowes, Houghton, Radford (capt), Manu, Tickle, Washbrook. Interchange Berrigan, Lauaki, Cusack, Moa. Hull KR Briscoe; Fox, Charnley, Cockayne, Latu; Murrell, Dobson; Clinton, Fisher, Wheeldon, Newton (capt), Galea, Watts. Interchange Lovegrove, Cook, Netherton, Hodgson. Referee P Bentham (Warrington). Attendance 20,079.