Hull FC boss Tony Smith was ready to blast Adam Swift at half-time - but by the end was hailing the two-try derby hero.
The error-ridden winger endured a miserable first half against fierce foes Hull KR. He spilled one easy pass and was twice bundled into touch by Ethan Ryan, the wideman who was Rovers’ best player on his return from a broken jaw. But ex-St Helens flier Swift hit back in style with two crucial tries as FC gained revenge for their humiliating 40-0 Easter hammering by KR.
It was FC’s first win at Craven Park in five years and on Smith’s first return there since being sacked as KR boss last July. On Swift, he joked: “He was lucky to have two legs. I could have blown them off at half-time about some aspects of his game!
“It wasn’t just Swifty. He knows I love him. And we had a bit of a laugh about it at the end of the game. It’s good that he’s able to bounce back and overcome some of those adversities. Some players if they do a few things wrong they put their heads down and sulk but there was none of that. I was pleased for him. For that first try, he’d played the ball himself before getting up and backing up Cam (Scott). That’s what he gives you: smarts and speed as well, as his name suggests.”
KR full-back Jack Walker marked his home debut with a fifth minute try. Rowan Milnes converted but the game almost descended into farce with the sheer number of handling errors. Eventually, Scott’s offload sent Swift clear down the middle and he did brilliantly to turn Walker inside and out in the 45th minute.
Scrum-half Jake Clifford improved but had to switch to full-back when Tex Hoy hobbled off with another hamstring injury. KR captain Shaun Kenny-Dowall was yellow-carded for a 58th minute high tackle on Clifford. It proved costly. Hooker Brad Dwyer fired a flat pass for Ligi Sao to charge over, Clifford improving.
KR hooker Matt Parcell thought he’d responded but it was ruled out for double-movement. Instead, Danny Houghton’s cut-out pass saw Swift get his second in the 76th minute. Rovers were third at one point but have lost six of their last seven league games and tumbled out of the play-off spots.
Boss Willie Peters saw Dean Hadley fail a HIA so he misses Friday's trip to Leeds and he has doubts over Mikey Lewis who also came off with a head knock at the end. he said: “We never had any flow in our attack. There’s no doubt we’re in a really tough spot.”
