A win for Hull FC reserves – but it may have come at a cost.
Hull FC outside back Roman Dawson.(Image: Dave Lofthouse, Hull FC)
Hull FC took the reserves derby spoils with a 26-10 victory over Hull KR on Sunday afternoon – but it may have come at a cost, with the Black and Whites left sweating after an injury to young outside back Roman Dawson.
The 20-year-old capped his return to action following a second successive ACL injury and scored two tries for good measure. However, he picked up a knock just before half-time, with further assessments to come to determine the full issue.
Hull Live understands the knock is not to the same knee where Dawson has suffered back-to-back ACL injuries, ruling him out of the majority of the 2024 and 2025 seasons, with fingers now crossed for some good news.
Making his first appearance since rupturing his ACL again in pre-season training last year, Dawson scored twice in the opening ten minutes as Hull raced into a 10-0 lead. The Black and Whites then had a Caleb Paleaaesina try chalked off for a forward pass and saw Will Wilson judged to be held up over the try line, but they kept their cool to score again just before half-time, with hooker Will Hutchinson scooting out from dummy half to extend the lead to 16 points.
Young half-back Callum Kemp, paired with twin brother Lloyd Kemp in the halves with Logan Moy at full-back, then scored the first of a second-half try brace to extend Hull’s lead to 22-0, before Hull KR broke their duck through Ben Hodder. Kemp then sealed the win with his second try.
Rovers – who fielded former Wigan Warriors youngster Ryan Hampshire – scored a late consolation through Harvey Horne, with Hull seeing Will Kirby sin-binned in the second half. Former Hull prop Cobie Wainhouse was also yellow carded shortly after, while half-back duo Jack Charles and Joe Thompson played against their former club for the first time.
For Hull, the reserves derby win makes it two from three at this level so far this year. They defeated London Broncos last month before defeat at Warrington Wolves, with new signing Joe Phillips featuring off the bench again after recovering from a leg injury picked up in pre-season.
Matty Laidlaw also started the game, with Hunslet having no game over the weekend. The young prop still has two weeks to run on his four-week loan deal. Meanwhile, Hull’s reserves are next in action against Wakefield Trinity on Saturday, 28 March.
Squads and scorers
Hull FC: Logan Moy: Roman Dawson, Ben Johnson, Caleb Paleaaesina, Elliot Middlemas: Callum Kemp, Lloyd Kemp; Will Wilson, Will Hutchinson, Matty Laidlaw; Will Kirby, Lennon Clark; Jordon Baker.
Interchanges: Joe Phillips, Kieran Calvert, Alistair Swyer, Jon Turner. 18th Man: Henry Watkinson.
Tries: Dawson (2, 6), Hutchinson (40), C. Kemp (56, 75). Goals: C. Kemp (7, 40, 57)
Hull KR: Ryan Hampshire; Harvey Horne, Louix Gorman, Noah Booth, Ben Hodder; Joe Thompson, Jack Charles; Jordan Dezaria, Alfie Woods, Zach Fishwick; Frankie Dearlove, Henry Tully; Cobie Wainhouse.
Interchanges: Josh Guynan, Theo Middlemas, Preston Pettman, Mikey Turner. 18th Man: Harry Moore.
Tries: Hodder (63), Horne (78). Goals: Charles (64)