LIAM Watts says Hull FC's ability to keep their composure was key to their derby win at MS3 Craven Park and has hailed the two points as vital in the play-off race.
The ex-Rovers player enjoyed a successful return to his old stamping ground as his Hull side put a difficult opening 40 minutes behind them with a much-improved second-half display.
The Black and Whites came from behind at the break to score 32 points in the second half as they put their hosts to the sword and finished eventual 38-20 winners.
"It was a tough first 40 minutes, we knew what we would be facing and they got stuck into us," Watts told the Mail. "We had to keep our composure and we did that before coming up with some big tries in the second half.
"Two quick-fire tries for us knocked the confidence out of them and you could see that on the field.
"We had to stick together and come through and we did just that, so all the boys are delighted.
"I'm over the moon winning the last one of the season because it is a good few months before we will play each other again.
"I'm delighted for the fans that came, the fans that watched it on the television and for everyone at the club."
Starting in the front row, Watts and his team were unable to get an early stranglehold as Rovers took the lead and Hull found their fluency of previous weeks hard to come by.
The Black and Whites were much-improved after the break, however, winning the forward battle and cutting free with five tries.
Victory brought the teams level on points in the table, with Hull's superior points difference seeing them leapfrog Rovers into seventh.
With Salford to play on Friday followed by the Challenge Cup final and then a repeat at Wigan, before ending the regular season at home to St Helens, Watts believes getting ahead of Rovers at this late stage of the campaign is crucial.
"It was a big win. The teams which are above us have an easier run-in because we've got some tough games to finish and we have the Challenge Cup final too," added Watts.
"So this was a big win for us. It puts us above Rovers in the table now and they have some easier games than us to come, so it was important to get above them.
"It will be tough in the last few games and it will still be close.
"I have a feeling we still may see each other once again and it could well be a repeat of 2010 when the teams met in the play-offs. It would be nice to get them again at our place."
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