A statistical look at the history of the Hull derby as we prepare for the 247th meeting between the sides
Hull FC and Hull KR will go head-to-head once again on Sunday afternoon, with red and white hosting black and white at Craven Park.
History will tell us not to read anything into the form book, with a catalogue of surprises down the years. But what else does history tell us about this famous game?
The city rivals first locked horns in a competitive fixture at Craven Street in 1899, a game Rovers won 8-2. In the 126 years that have passed, countless players have written their names into derby folklore, but who has played in the most derby games, who are the top derby scorers, and which of the two sides can boast the proudest record?
We’ve got all the answers to those questions and so much more. With the help of Hull FC historian Bill Dalton, we can bring you the definitive derby statistical history.
Hull FC are currently leading the overall derby head-to-head and will be able to boast that record for some years to come, having won 10 more games than the Robins, but in the Super League era, it’s Rovers that now have the advantage after their dominance of recent years.
Hull FC legend Kirk Yeaman has scored the most derby tries in history, while Danny Tickle sits at the top of the all-time points scorers after his stints for both Hull clubs.
Below is the full list of derby records. The records are from competitive games only.
Games played
248
Hull FC wins: 124
Hull KR wins: 114
Draws: 10
Hull FC points scored: 3,287
Hull KR points scored: 3,099
Record by competition
Northern Rugby Football League – Played 112 (FC 60 wins, KR wins 44, draws 8)
War League – Played 4 (FC wins 4, KR wins 0)
Yorkshire Senior Comp – Played 4 (FC wins 2, KR wins 2)
Division 1 (1902-05) – Played 6 (FC wins 2, KR wins 4)
Division 1 (1962-64) – Played 4 (FC wins 0, KR wins 4)
Division 1 (1973-95) – Played 32 (FC wins 16, KR wins 15, draws 1)
Division 1 Premiership – Played 2 (FC wins 1, KR wins 1)
Division 2 (1973-95) – Played 2 (FC wins 0, KR wins 1, draws 1)
Eastern Division – Played 2 (FC wins 0, KR wins 2)
Championship Play Off – Played 1 (FC wins 1, KR wins 0)
Premiership Play Off – Played 2 (FC wins 0, KR wins 2)
Super League – Played 49 (FC wins 24, KR wins 25)
Challenge Cup – Played 12 (FC wins 6, KR wins 6)
Yorkshire Cup – Played 11 (FC wins 6, KR wins 5)
John Player Trophy – Played 2 (FC wins 1, KR wins 1)
BBC2 Floodlit Trophy – Played 3 (FC wins 1, KR wins 2)
Record by ground
The Boulevard: Played 94 (FC wins 55, KR wins 31, 8 draws)
Craven Street: Played 21 (FC wins 12, KR wins 8, 1 draws)
Craven Park (Holderness Road): Played 61 (FC wins 21, KR wins 39, 1 draws)
New Craven Park (Preston Road): Played 24 (FC wins 11, KR wins 13)
Boothferry Park: Played 10 (FC wins 7, KR wins 3)
Headingley: Played 5 (FC wins 2, KR wins 3)
Wembley Stadium: Played 1 (FC wins 0, KR wins 1)
Millennium Stadium: Played 3 (FC wins 0, KR wins 3)
City of Manchester Stadium: Played 3 (FC wins 1, KR wins 2)
St James’ Park: Played 4 (FC wins 4, KR wins 0)
MKM Stadium: Played 21 (FC wins 10, KR wins 11)
Totally Wicked Stadium: Played: 1 (FC wins 1, KR wins 0)
Highest Scores
The highest score recorded by either team is the 56 points registered by Hull in their 56-12 Super League win on Good Friday 2019. That is also the Black and Whites’ widest margin of victory.
Rovers’ highest score is the 42 knocked up in a 42-6 Super League success in 2007. The Robins’ widest margin is their 40-0 success in 2023. All three games were at the MKM Stadium.
Lowest Scores
Hull have failed to score in 16 derby encounters. Rovers have been ‘nilled’ on eight occasions. Hull recorded ‘ducks’ in both League encounters in the 1902-03 season.
In the history of the derby contests, the accolade of holding the ‘highest score’ tag has only changed hands on five occasions.
After the initial season in 1899–1900, when Rovers won the first game by 8-2, Hull countered that with scores of 11 and 20 in the two matches the following year.
Rovers surpassed that by a single point in 1906–07; Hull, in turn, scored a 33-7 victory at the Boulevard in 1908-09 before Rovers turned the tables later in the season with a 35-4 success.
They raised the bar again to 39 points in 1924-25 and to 42 in 2007. So when Hull recorded their 44 points in 2008, it was the first time in 99 years that Hull held the title of the highest derby score. They then increased that to 56 in 2019 – a record to this day.
Most derby appearances
40: Danny Houghton (Hull FC)32 Ned Rogers (Hull FC)30: Peter Flanagan (Hull KR)28: Clive Sullivan (18 FC, 10 KR)28: Mick Scott (Hull FC)28: Phil Lowe (Hull KR)27: Mike Smith (Hull KR)26: Kirk Yeaman (Hull FC)25: Laurie Osbourne (Hull KR)25: Jack Spamer (Hull KR)24: Johnny Whiteley (Hull FC)24: Gilbert Auston (Hull KR)24: Tommy Harris (Hull FC)24: H Bowman (Hull FC)24: E Caswell (Hull FC)24: J Cook (Hull KR)24: A Moore (Hull KR)
Most derby tries
17: Kirk Yeaman (Hull FC)15: Ivor Watts (Hull FC)12: Clive Sullivan (9 FC, 3 KR)11: Mike Smith (Hull KR)9: Ned Rogers (Hull FC)9: George Bateman (8 FC, 1 KR)8: Johnny Whiteley (Hull FC)8: John Moore (Hull KR)8: Graham Paul (Hull KR)8: Phil Hogan (Hull KR)
Most derby goals
66: Cyril Kellett (Hull KR)61: Danny Tickle (56 FC, 5 KR)55: Marc Sneyd (Hull FC)47: Michael Dobson (Hull KR)44: John Maloney (Hull FC)39: Joe Oliver (37 FC, 2 KR)
Most derby points
138: Danny Tickle (128 FC, 10 KR)132: Cyril Kellett (Hull KR)113: Marc Sneyd (Hull FC)103: Michael Dobson (Hull KR)95: Joe Oliver (Hull FC)88: John Maloney (Hull FC)86: Mike Fletcher (Hull KR)
Most tries in a derby game
4: Tommy Glynn (1945)4: Ivor Watts (1953, 1956)
Ivor Watts is the only player to score two derby hat-tricks, and Frank Hurley (Australian), Tevita Vaikona (Tongan) and Fetuli Talanoa are the only overseas players to register hat-tricks.
18 players have scored a derby hat-trick, the most recent players being Ryan Hall, Mikey Lewis, Jack Logan, Kieran Moss, Fetuli Talanoa, Thomas Minns, and Jordan Turner.
Most goals in a derby game
10: Marc Sneyd – Hull FC (2019)8: Garry Schofield – Hull FC (1984)7: John Maloney – Hull FC (1971)7: Danny Tickle – Hull FC (2013)7: Roger Millward – Hull KR (1969)7: Steve Hubbard – Hull KR (1980)7: Cyril Kellett – Hull KR (1964)
Most points in a derby game:
20: Marc Sneyd – Hull FC (2019)18: Gary Pearce – Hull FC (1989)16: Garry Schofield – Hull FC (1984)16: John Dorahy – Hull KR (1986)